diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/usearch.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/usearch.cpp
index 36c0f202bce..059ccb5a5d6 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/usearch.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/usearch.cpp
@@ -894,7 +894,7 @@ UBool hasAccentsAfterMatch(const UStringSearch *strsrch, int32_t start,
                 }
                 count ++;
             }
-            int32_t ce = getCE(strsrch, ucol_next(coleiter, &status));
+            int32_t ce = ucol_next(coleiter, &status);
             if (U_FAILURE(status)) {
                 return TRUE;
             }