diff --git a/AK/String.cpp b/AK/String.cpp
index c61be2b95d..a0a9147235 100644
--- a/AK/String.cpp
+++ b/AK/String.cpp
@@ -122,12 +122,6 @@ void StringData::compute_hash() const
 
 }
 
-void String::destroy_string()
-{
-    if (!is_short_string())
-        m_data->unref();
-}
-
 String String::from_utf8_without_validation(ReadonlyBytes bytes)
 {
     if (bytes.size() <= MAX_SHORT_STRING_BYTE_COUNT) {
diff --git a/AK/String.h b/AK/String.h
index 672597036e..0dbd6f46e8 100644
--- a/AK/String.h
+++ b/AK/String.h
@@ -48,12 +48,6 @@ public:
 
     using StringBase::StringBase;
 
-    constexpr ~String()
-    {
-        if (!is_constant_evaluated())
-            destroy_string();
-    }
-
     // Creates an empty (zero-length) String.
     constexpr String()
         : StringBase(ShortString { SHORT_STRING_FLAG, {} })
@@ -209,8 +203,6 @@ public:
 
 private:
     using ShortString = Detail::ShortString;
-
-    void destroy_string();
 };
 
 template<>
diff --git a/AK/StringBase.cpp b/AK/StringBase.cpp
index 944c8df6f2..2a289bd884 100644
--- a/AK/StringBase.cpp
+++ b/AK/StringBase.cpp
@@ -73,4 +73,10 @@ bool StringBase::operator==(StringBase const& other) const
     return bytes() == other.bytes();
 }
 
+void StringBase::destroy_string()
+{
+    if (!is_short_string())
+        m_data->unref();
+}
+
 }
diff --git a/AK/StringBase.h b/AK/StringBase.h
index 302a9b211e..60b80a112f 100644
--- a/AK/StringBase.h
+++ b/AK/StringBase.h
@@ -42,6 +42,12 @@ public:
     StringBase& operator=(StringBase&&);
     StringBase& operator=(StringBase const&);
 
+    constexpr ~StringBase()
+    {
+        if (!is_constant_evaluated())
+            destroy_string();
+    }
+
     // NOTE: This is primarily interesting to unit tests.
     [[nodiscard]] bool is_short_string() const;
 
@@ -71,6 +77,9 @@ protected:
         ShortString m_short_string;
         Detail::StringData const* m_data { nullptr };
     };
+
+private:
+    void destroy_string();
 };
 
 }