diff --git a/server/core/config.cc b/server/core/config.cc
index 85a9bf66a..e23f24c70 100644
--- a/server/core/config.cc
+++ b/server/core/config.cc
@@ -3404,7 +3404,9 @@ int create_new_service(CONFIG_CONTEXT *obj)
 
         if (char* filters = config_get_value(obj->parameters, CN_FILTERS))
         {
-            if (!service_set_filters(service, filters))
+            auto flist = mxs::strtok(filters, "|");
+
+            if (!service->set_filters(flist))
             {
                 error_count++;
             }
diff --git a/server/core/internal/service.hh b/server/core/internal/service.hh
index 37580913a..4b3307fc4 100644
--- a/server/core/internal/service.hh
+++ b/server/core/internal/service.hh
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ public:
      *
      * @return True if filters were all found and were valid
      */
-    bool set_filters(const std::string& filters);
+    bool set_filters(const std::vector<std::string>& filters);
 
     /**
      * Get the list of filters this service uses
@@ -311,9 +311,6 @@ void service_replace_parameter(Service *service, const char* key, const char* va
 // Internal search function
 Service* service_internal_find(const char *name);
 
-// Assign filters to service
-bool  service_set_filters(Service *service, const char* filters);
-
 /**
  * @brief Check if a service uses a server
  * @param service Service to check
diff --git a/server/core/service.cc b/server/core/service.cc
index 74dbea19d..f11e5089a 100644
--- a/server/core/service.cc
+++ b/server/core/service.cc
@@ -1060,13 +1060,13 @@ int service_enable_root(Service *svc, int action)
     return 1;
 }
 
-bool Service::set_filters(const std::string& filters)
+bool Service::set_filters(const std::vector<std::string>& filters)
 {
     bool rval = true;
     std::vector<SFilterDef> flist;
     uint64_t my_capabilities = 0;
 
-    for (auto& f : mxs::strtok(filters, "|"))
+    for (auto f : filters)
     {
         fix_object_name(f);
 
@@ -1137,20 +1137,6 @@ const Service::FilterList& Service::get_filters() const
     return *get_local_filters();
 }
 
-/**
- * Set the filters used by the service
- *
- * @param service The service itself
- * @param filters The filters to use separated by the pipe character |
- *
- * @return True if loading and creating all filters was successful. False if a
- *         filter module was not found or the instance creation failed.
- */
-bool service_set_filters(Service* service, const char* filters)
-{
-    return service->set_filters(filters);
-}
-
 Service* service_internal_find(const char *name)
 {
     LockGuard guard(this_unit.lock);
@@ -2454,10 +2440,6 @@ bool Service::update_basic_parameter(const std::string& key, const std::string&
         retry_start = config_truth_value(value.c_str());
         valid = true;
     }
-    else if (key == CN_FILTERS)
-    {
-        valid = set_filters(value);
-    }
 
     return valid;
 }