diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
index f71c6d8509..b3d6844e43 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.cpp
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ static int nextId()
 */
 int QHostInfo::lookupHost(const QString &name, QObject *receiver, const char *member)
 {
-    return QHostInfoPrivate::lookupHostImpl(name, receiver, nullptr, member);
+    return QHostInfo::lookupHostImpl(name, receiver, nullptr, member);
 }
 
 /*!
@@ -773,14 +773,8 @@ QString QHostInfo::localHostName()
     \sa hostName()
 */
 
-// ### Qt 6 merge with function below
-int QHostInfo::lookupHostImpl(const QString &name,
-                              const QObject *receiver,
-                              QtPrivate::QSlotObjectBase *slotObj)
-{
-    return QHostInfoPrivate::lookupHostImpl(name, receiver, slotObj, nullptr);
-}
-/*
+/*!
+    \internal
     Called by the various lookupHost overloads to perform the lookup.
 
     Signals either the functor encapuslated in the \a slotObj in the context
@@ -788,13 +782,13 @@ int QHostInfo::lookupHostImpl(const QString &name,
 
     \a receiver might be the nullptr, but only if a \a slotObj is provided.
 */
-int QHostInfoPrivate::lookupHostImpl(const QString &name,
-                                     const QObject *receiver,
-                                     QtPrivate::QSlotObjectBase *slotObj,
-                                     const char *member)
+int QHostInfo::lookupHostImpl(const QString &name,
+                              const QObject *receiver,
+                              QtPrivate::QSlotObjectBase *slotObj,
+                              const char *member)
 {
 #if defined QHOSTINFO_DEBUG
-    qDebug("QHostInfoPrivate::lookupHostImpl(\"%s\", %p, %p, %s)",
+    qDebug("QHostInfo::lookupHostImpl(\"%s\", %p, %p, %s)",
            name.toLatin1().constData(), receiver, slotObj, member ? member + 1 : 0);
 #endif
     Q_ASSERT(!member != !slotObj); // one of these must be set, but not both
@@ -1098,7 +1092,7 @@ QHostInfo qt_qhostinfo_lookup(const QString &name, QObject *receiver, const char
     }
 
     // was not in cache, trigger lookup
-    *id = QHostInfoPrivate::lookupHostImpl(name, receiver, nullptr, member);
+    *id = QHostInfo::lookupHostImpl(name, receiver, nullptr, member);
 
     // return empty response, valid==false
     return QHostInfo();
diff --git a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.h b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.h
index ca2eaae2bd..fd1567eb07 100644
--- a/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.h
+++ b/src/network/kernel/qhostinfo.h
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ public:
                           "with the return type of the signal.");
 
         auto slotObj = new QtPrivate::QSlotObject<Func, typename SlotType::Arguments, void>(slot);
-        return lookupHostImpl(name, receiver, slotObj);
+        return lookupHostImpl(name, receiver, slotObj, nullptr);
     }
 
     // lookupHost to a callable (without context)
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ public:
         auto slotObj = new QtPrivate::QFunctorSlotObject<Func1, 1,
                                                          typename QtPrivate::List<QHostInfo>,
                                                          void>(std::move(slot));
-        return lookupHostImpl(name, context, slotObj);
+        return lookupHostImpl(name, context, slotObj, nullptr);
     }
 #endif // Q_QDOC
 
@@ -153,7 +153,11 @@ private:
 
     static int lookupHostImpl(const QString &name,
                               const QObject *receiver,
-                              QtPrivate::QSlotObjectBase *slotObj);
+                              QtPrivate::QSlotObjectBase *slotObj,
+                              const char *member);
+
+    friend QHostInfo Q_NETWORK_EXPORT qt_qhostinfo_lookup(const QString &name, QObject *receiver,
+                                                          const char *member, bool *valid, int *id);
 };
 
 Q_DECLARE_SHARED(QHostInfo)