diff --git a/contracts/staking/contracts/src/fees/MixinExchangeFees.sol b/contracts/staking/contracts/src/fees/MixinExchangeFees.sol
index 21661ee15e..fddf0235b1 100644
--- a/contracts/staking/contracts/src/fees/MixinExchangeFees.sol
+++ b/contracts/staking/contracts/src/fees/MixinExchangeFees.sol
@@ -151,9 +151,10 @@ contract MixinExchangeFees is
         returns (uint256 membersStake, uint256 weightedStake)
     {
         uint256 operatorStake = getStakeDelegatedToPoolByOwner(
-            _getStakingPoolOperator(poolId),
+            _poolById[poolId].operator,
             poolId
         ).currentEpochBalance;
+
         membersStake = totalStake.safeSub(operatorStake);
         weightedStake = operatorStake.safeAdd(
             LibMath.getPartialAmountFloor(
diff --git a/contracts/staking/contracts/src/staking_pools/MixinStakingPool.sol b/contracts/staking/contracts/src/staking_pools/MixinStakingPool.sol
index 3515dd7f3a..570204ea1c 100644
--- a/contracts/staking/contracts/src/staking_pools/MixinStakingPool.sol
+++ b/contracts/staking/contracts/src/staking_pools/MixinStakingPool.sol
@@ -279,17 +279,6 @@ contract MixinStakingPool is
         );
     }
 
-    /// @dev return the staking pool operator
-    /// @param poolId Unique id of pool.
-    function _getStakingPoolOperator(bytes32 poolId)
-        internal
-        view
-        returns (address operator)
-    {
-        operator = _poolById[poolId].operator;
-        return operator;
-    }
-
     /// @dev Computes the unique id that comes after the input pool id.
     /// @param poolId Unique id of pool.
     /// @return Next pool id after input pool.
@@ -308,7 +297,7 @@ contract MixinStakingPool is
         view
         returns (bool)
     {
-        if (_getStakingPoolOperator(poolId) == NIL_ADDRESS) {
+        if (_poolById[poolId].operator == NIL_ADDRESS) {
             // we use the pool's operator as a proxy for its existence
             LibRichErrors.rrevert(
                 LibStakingRichErrors.PoolExistenceError(
@@ -355,7 +344,7 @@ contract MixinStakingPool is
         private
         view
     {
-        address operator = _getStakingPoolOperator(poolId);
+        address operator = _poolById[poolId].operator;
         if (
             msg.sender != operator &&
             getStakingPoolIdOfMaker(msg.sender) != poolId