diff --git a/arch/arc/core/thread.c b/arch/arc/core/thread.c
index 5b25b79a039..d6c40cf7f18 100644
--- a/arch/arc/core/thread.c
+++ b/arch/arc/core/thread.c
@@ -54,11 +54,12 @@ struct init_stack_frame {
  *
  * @return N/A
  */
-void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, char *pStackMem, size_t stackSize,
-		 _thread_entry_t pEntry,
+void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, k_thread_stack_t stack,
+		 size_t stackSize, _thread_entry_t pEntry,
 		 void *parameter1, void *parameter2, void *parameter3,
 		 int priority, unsigned int options)
 {
+	char *pStackMem = K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(stack);
 	_ASSERT_VALID_PRIO(priority, pEntry);
 
 	char *stackEnd = pStackMem + stackSize;
diff --git a/arch/arc/include/v2/irq.h b/arch/arc/include/v2/irq.h
index 8c3fe82f76d..a1edb5fc800 100644
--- a/arch/arc/include/v2/irq.h
+++ b/arch/arc/include/v2/irq.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #ifndef _ASMLANGUAGE
 
 extern void _firq_stack_setup(void);
-extern char _interrupt_stack[];
+extern K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE(_interrupt_stack, CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE);
 
 /*
  * _irq_setup
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ static ALWAYS_INLINE void _irq_setup(void)
 	k_cpu_sleep_mode = _ARC_V2_WAKE_IRQ_LEVEL;
 	_arc_v2_aux_reg_write(_ARC_V2_AUX_IRQ_CTRL, aux_irq_ctrl_value);
 
-	_kernel.irq_stack = _interrupt_stack + CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE;
+	_kernel.irq_stack =
+		K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(_interrupt_stack) + CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE;
 	_firq_stack_setup();
 }
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/core/thread.c b/arch/arm/core/thread.c
index 9ae5572b2a0..a608a0852c7 100644
--- a/arch/arm/core/thread.c
+++ b/arch/arm/core/thread.c
@@ -49,11 +49,13 @@
  * @return N/A
  */
 
-void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, char *pStackMem, size_t stackSize,
-		 _thread_entry_t pEntry,
+void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, k_thread_stack_t stack,
+		 size_t stackSize, _thread_entry_t pEntry,
 		 void *parameter1, void *parameter2, void *parameter3,
 		 int priority, unsigned int options)
 {
+	char *pStackMem = K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(stack);
+
 	_ASSERT_VALID_PRIO(priority, pEntry);
 
 	__ASSERT(!((u32_t)pStackMem & (STACK_ALIGN - 1)),
diff --git a/arch/arm/include/cortex_m/stack.h b/arch/arm/include/cortex_m/stack.h
index 7a7046cbe95..d3d143ab1a2 100644
--- a/arch/arm/include/cortex_m/stack.h
+++ b/arch/arm/include/cortex_m/stack.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ extern "C" {
 
 #else
 
-extern char _interrupt_stack[CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE];
+extern K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE(_interrupt_stack, CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE);
 
 /**
  *
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ extern char _interrupt_stack[CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE];
  */
 static ALWAYS_INLINE void _InterruptStackSetup(void)
 {
-	u32_t msp = (u32_t)(_interrupt_stack + CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE);
+	u32_t msp = (u32_t)(K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(_interrupt_stack) +
+			    CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE);
 
 	_MspSet(msp);
 }
diff --git a/arch/arm/include/kernel_arch_func.h b/arch/arm/include/kernel_arch_func.h
index eff05ccdfc5..466ee964465 100644
--- a/arch/arm/include/kernel_arch_func.h
+++ b/arch/arm/include/kernel_arch_func.h
@@ -38,13 +38,15 @@ static ALWAYS_INLINE void kernel_arch_init(void)
 }
 
 static ALWAYS_INLINE void
-_arch_switch_to_main_thread(struct k_thread *main_thread, char *main_stack,
+_arch_switch_to_main_thread(struct k_thread *main_thread,
+			    k_thread_stack_t main_stack,
 			    size_t main_stack_size, _thread_entry_t _main)
 {
 	/* get high address of the stack, i.e. its start (stack grows down) */
 	char *start_of_main_stack;
 
-	start_of_main_stack = main_stack + main_stack_size;
+	start_of_main_stack =
+		K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(main_stack) + main_stack_size;
 	start_of_main_stack = (void *)STACK_ROUND_DOWN(start_of_main_stack);
 
 	_current = main_thread;
diff --git a/arch/nios2/core/thread.c b/arch/nios2/core/thread.c
index 121132a2f13..dc324356e18 100644
--- a/arch/nios2/core/thread.c
+++ b/arch/nios2/core/thread.c
@@ -31,11 +31,12 @@ struct init_stack_frame {
 };
 
 
-void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, char *stack_memory, size_t stack_size,
-		 _thread_entry_t thread_func,
+void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, k_thread_stack_t stack,
+		 size_t stack_size, _thread_entry_t thread_func,
 		 void *arg1, void *arg2, void *arg3,
 		 int priority, unsigned int options)
 {
+	char *stack_memory = K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(stack);
 	_ASSERT_VALID_PRIO(priority, thread_func);
 
 	struct init_stack_frame *iframe;
diff --git a/arch/nios2/include/kernel_arch_data.h b/arch/nios2/include/kernel_arch_data.h
index 3f566e53248..c8d6e31636f 100644
--- a/arch/nios2/include/kernel_arch_data.h
+++ b/arch/nios2/include/kernel_arch_data.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ struct _kernel_arch {
 
 typedef struct _kernel_arch _kernel_arch_t;
 
-extern char _interrupt_stack[CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE];
+extern K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE(_interrupt_stack, CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE);
 
 #endif /* _ASMLANGUAGE */
 
diff --git a/arch/nios2/include/kernel_arch_func.h b/arch/nios2/include/kernel_arch_func.h
index bf8d5b5d134..d18d3218a34 100644
--- a/arch/nios2/include/kernel_arch_func.h
+++ b/arch/nios2/include/kernel_arch_func.h
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ void k_cpu_atomic_idle(unsigned int key);
 
 static ALWAYS_INLINE void kernel_arch_init(void)
 {
-	_kernel.irq_stack = _interrupt_stack + CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE;
+	_kernel.irq_stack =
+		K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(_interrupt_stack) + CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE;
 }
 
 static ALWAYS_INLINE void
diff --git a/arch/riscv32/core/thread.c b/arch/riscv32/core/thread.c
index 7e4f6864025..d6e6869a457 100644
--- a/arch/riscv32/core/thread.c
+++ b/arch/riscv32/core/thread.c
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@ void _thread_entry_wrapper(_thread_entry_t thread,
 			   void *arg2,
 			   void *arg3);
 
-void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, char *stack_memory,
+void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, k_thread_stack_t stack,
 		 size_t stack_size, _thread_entry_t thread_func,
 		 void *arg1, void *arg2, void *arg3,
 		 int priority, unsigned int options)
 {
+	char *stack_memory = K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(stack);
 	_ASSERT_VALID_PRIO(priority, thread_func);
 
 	struct __esf *stack_init;
diff --git a/arch/riscv32/include/kernel_arch_data.h b/arch/riscv32/include/kernel_arch_data.h
index 4d3ef8d614c..a0eae52a1b9 100644
--- a/arch/riscv32/include/kernel_arch_data.h
+++ b/arch/riscv32/include/kernel_arch_data.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ struct _kernel_arch {
 
 typedef struct _kernel_arch _kernel_arch_t;
 
-extern char _interrupt_stack[CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE];
+extern K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE(_interrupt_stack, CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE);
 
 #endif /* _ASMLANGUAGE */
 
diff --git a/arch/riscv32/include/kernel_arch_func.h b/arch/riscv32/include/kernel_arch_func.h
index 67fddf07abd..958a44f16b7 100644
--- a/arch/riscv32/include/kernel_arch_func.h
+++ b/arch/riscv32/include/kernel_arch_func.h
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ void k_cpu_atomic_idle(unsigned int key);
 
 static ALWAYS_INLINE void kernel_arch_init(void)
 {
-	_kernel.irq_stack = _interrupt_stack + CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE;
+	_kernel.irq_stack =
+		K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(_interrupt_stack) + CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE;
 }
 
 static ALWAYS_INLINE void
diff --git a/arch/x86/core/thread.c b/arch/x86/core/thread.c
index 30ff57060b4..270774eda40 100644
--- a/arch/x86/core/thread.c
+++ b/arch/x86/core/thread.c
@@ -196,22 +196,23 @@ __asm__("\t.globl _thread_entry\n"
  *
  * @return opaque pointer to initialized k_thread structure
  */
-void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, char *pStackMem, size_t stackSize,
+void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, k_thread_stack_t stack,
+		 size_t stackSize,
 		 _thread_entry_t pEntry,
 		 void *parameter1, void *parameter2, void *parameter3,
 		 int priority, unsigned int options)
 {
+	char *pStackMem;
+
 	_ASSERT_VALID_PRIO(priority, pEntry);
 
 	unsigned long *pInitialThread;
 
 #if CONFIG_X86_STACK_PROTECTION
-	_x86_mmu_set_flags(pStackMem, MMU_PAGE_SIZE, MMU_ENTRY_NOT_PRESENT,
+	_x86_mmu_set_flags(stack, MMU_PAGE_SIZE, MMU_ENTRY_NOT_PRESENT,
 			   MMU_PTE_P_MASK);
 #endif
-#if _STACK_GUARD_SIZE
-	pStackMem += _STACK_GUARD_SIZE;
-#endif
+	pStackMem = K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(stack);
 	_new_thread_init(thread, pStackMem, stackSize, priority, options);
 
 	/* carve the thread entry struct from the "base" of the stack */
diff --git a/arch/xtensa/core/thread.c b/arch/xtensa/core/thread.c
index 9dd0791c621..e4eeafe8daa 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/core/thread.c
+++ b/arch/xtensa/core/thread.c
@@ -42,11 +42,14 @@ extern void _xt_user_exit(void);
  * @return N/A
  */
 
-void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, char *pStack, size_t stackSize,
+void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, k_thread_stack_t stack,
+		size_t stackSize,
 		void (*pEntry)(void *, void *, void *),
 		void *p1, void *p2, void *p3,
 		int priority, unsigned int options)
 {
+	char *pStack = K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(stack);
+
 	/* Align stack end to maximum alignment requirement. */
 	char *stackEnd = (char *)ROUND_DOWN(pStack + stackSize, 16);
 #if XCHAL_CP_NUM > 0
diff --git a/include/arch/x86/arch.h b/include/arch/x86/arch.h
index 47aba180b65..e91c2c3230b 100644
--- a/include/arch/x86/arch.h
+++ b/include/arch/x86/arch.h
@@ -547,22 +547,25 @@ extern FUNC_NORETURN void _SysFatalErrorHandler(unsigned int reason,
  */
 
 #define _ARCH_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE(sym, size) \
-	char _GENERIC_SECTION(.stacks) __aligned(_STACK_BASE_ALIGN) \
-		sym[size + _STACK_GUARD_SIZE]
+	struct _k_thread_stack_element _GENERIC_SECTION(.stacks) \
+		__aligned(_STACK_BASE_ALIGN) \
+		sym[(size) + _STACK_GUARD_SIZE]
 
 #define _ARCH_THREAD_STACK_ARRAY_DEFINE(sym, nmemb, size) \
-	char _GENERIC_SECTION(.stacks) __aligned(_STACK_BASE_ALIGN) \
+	struct _k_thread_stack_element _GENERIC_SECTION(.stacks) \
+		__aligned(_STACK_BASE_ALIGN) \
 		sym[nmemb][ROUND_UP(size, _STACK_BASE_ALIGN) + \
 			   _STACK_GUARD_SIZE]
 
 #define _ARCH_THREAD_STACK_MEMBER(sym, size) \
-	char __aligned(_STACK_BASE_ALIGN) sym[size + _STACK_GUARD_SIZE]
+	struct _k_thread_stack_element __aligned(_STACK_BASE_ALIGN) \
+		sym[(size) + _STACK_GUARD_SIZE]
 
 #define _ARCH_THREAD_STACK_SIZEOF(sym) \
 	(sizeof(sym) - _STACK_GUARD_SIZE)
 
 #define _ARCH_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(sym) \
-	(sym + _STACK_GUARD_SIZE)
+	((char *)((sym) + _STACK_GUARD_SIZE))
 
 #if CONFIG_X86_KERNEL_OOPS
 #define _ARCH_EXCEPT(reason_p) do { \
diff --git a/include/drivers/console/ipm_console.h b/include/drivers/console/ipm_console.h
index ed6e3718baa..0c13f3f6379 100644
--- a/include/drivers/console/ipm_console.h
+++ b/include/drivers/console/ipm_console.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ struct ipm_console_receiver_config_info {
 	 * Stack for the receiver's thread, which prints out messages as
 	 * they come in. Should be sized CONFIG_IPM_CONSOLE_STACK_SIZE
 	 */
-	char *thread_stack;
+	k_thread_stack_t thread_stack;
 
 	/**
 	 * Ring buffer data area for stashing characters from the interrupt
diff --git a/include/kernel.h b/include/kernel.h
index fa1245ae9df..4f0583bbc17 100644
--- a/include/kernel.h
+++ b/include/kernel.h
@@ -347,6 +347,26 @@ typedef void (*k_thread_entry_t)(void *p1, void *p2, void *p3);
 
 #if !defined(_ASMLANGUAGE)
 
+/* Using typedef deliberately here, this is quite intended to be an opaque
+ * type. K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER() should be used to access the data within.
+ *
+ * The purpose of this data type is to clearly distinguish between the
+ * declared symbol for a stack (of type k_thread_stack_t) and the underlying
+ * buffer which composes the stack data actually used by the underlying
+ * thread; they cannot be used interchangably as some arches precede the
+ * stack buffer region with guard areas that trigger a MPU or MMU fault
+ * if written to.
+ *
+ * APIs that want to work with the buffer inside should continue to use
+ * char *.
+ *
+ * Stacks should always be created with K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE().
+ */
+struct __packed _k_thread_stack_element {
+	char data;
+};
+typedef struct _k_thread_stack_element *k_thread_stack_t;
+
 /**
  * @brief Spawn a thread.
  *
@@ -384,10 +404,10 @@ typedef void (*k_thread_entry_t)(void *p1, void *p2, void *p3);
  *
  * @return ID of new thread.
  */
-extern __deprecated k_tid_t k_thread_spawn(char *stack, size_t stack_size,
-			      k_thread_entry_t entry,
-			      void *p1, void *p2, void *p3,
-			      int prio, u32_t options, s32_t delay);
+extern __deprecated k_tid_t k_thread_spawn(k_thread_stack_t stack,
+			size_t stack_size, k_thread_entry_t entry,
+			void *p1, void *p2, void *p3,
+			int prio, u32_t options, s32_t delay);
 
 /**
  * @brief Create a thread.
@@ -421,7 +441,8 @@ extern __deprecated k_tid_t k_thread_spawn(char *stack, size_t stack_size,
  *
  * @return ID of new thread.
  */
-extern k_tid_t k_thread_create(struct k_thread *new_thread, char *stack,
+extern k_tid_t k_thread_create(struct k_thread *new_thread,
+			       k_thread_stack_t stack,
 			       size_t stack_size,
 			       void (*entry)(void *, void *, void*),
 			       void *p1, void *p2, void *p3,
@@ -521,7 +542,7 @@ extern void k_thread_abort(k_tid_t thread);
 
 struct _static_thread_data {
 	struct k_thread *init_thread;
-	char *init_stack;
+	k_thread_stack_t init_stack;
 	unsigned int init_stack_size;
 	void (*init_entry)(void *, void *, void *);
 	void *init_p1;
@@ -2043,7 +2064,8 @@ static inline int k_work_pending(struct k_work *work)
  *
  * @return N/A
  */
-extern void k_work_q_start(struct k_work_q *work_q, char *stack,
+extern void k_work_q_start(struct k_work_q *work_q,
+			   k_thread_stack_t stack,
 			   size_t stack_size, int prio);
 
 /**
@@ -3838,7 +3860,10 @@ extern void _timer_expiration_handler(struct _timeout *t);
 		_ARCH_THREAD_STACK_ARRAY_DEFINE(sym, nmemb, size)
 #define K_THREAD_STACK_MEMBER(sym, size) _ARCH_THREAD_STACK_MEMBER(sym, size)
 #define K_THREAD_STACK_SIZEOF(sym) _ARCH_THREAD_STACK_SIZEOF(sym)
-#define K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(sym) _ARCH_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(sym)
+static inline char *K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(k_thread_stack_t sym)
+{
+	return _ARCH_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(sym);
+}
 #else
 /**
  * @brief Declare a toplevel thread stack memory region
@@ -3848,8 +3873,9 @@ extern void _timer_expiration_handler(struct _timeout *t);
  * This is the generic, historical definition. Align to STACK_ALIGN and put in
  * 'noinit' section so that it isn't zeroed at boot
  *
- * The declared symbol will always be a character array which can be passed to
- * k_thread_create, but should otherwise not be manipulated.
+ * The declared symbol will always be a k_thread_stack_t which can be passed to
+ * k_thread_create, but should otherwise not be manipulated. If the buffer
+ * inside needs to be examined, use K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER().
  *
  * It is legal to precede this definition with the 'static' keyword.
  *
@@ -3861,7 +3887,7 @@ extern void _timer_expiration_handler(struct _timeout *t);
  * @param size Size of the stack memory region
  */
 #define K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE(sym, size) \
-	char __noinit __aligned(STACK_ALIGN) sym[size]
+	struct _k_thread_stack_element __noinit __aligned(STACK_ALIGN) sym[size]
 
 /**
  * @brief Declare a toplevel array of thread stack memory regions
@@ -3878,7 +3904,8 @@ extern void _timer_expiration_handler(struct _timeout *t);
  */
 
 #define K_THREAD_STACK_ARRAY_DEFINE(sym, nmemb, size) \
-	char __noinit __aligned(STACK_ALIGN) sym[nmemb][size]
+	struct _k_thread_stack_element __noinit \
+		__aligned(STACK_ALIGN) sym[nmemb][size]
 
 /**
  * @brief Declare an embedded stack memory region
@@ -3893,7 +3920,7 @@ extern void _timer_expiration_handler(struct _timeout *t);
  * @param size Size of the stack memory region
  */
 #define K_THREAD_STACK_MEMBER(sym, size) \
-	char __aligned(STACK_ALIGN) sym[size]
+	struct _k_thread_stack_element __aligned(STACK_ALIGN) sym[size]
 
 /**
  * @brief Return the size in bytes of a stack memory region
@@ -3925,7 +3952,10 @@ extern void _timer_expiration_handler(struct _timeout *t);
  * @param sym Declared stack symbol name
  * @return The buffer itself, a char *
  */
-#define K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(sym) sym
+static inline char *K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(k_thread_stack_t sym)
+{
+	return (char *)sym;
+}
 
 #endif /* _ARCH_DECLARE_STACK */
 
diff --git a/include/net/http.h b/include/net/http.h
index 52160951cc6..4c3945ecdf5 100644
--- a/include/net/http.h
+++ b/include/net/http.h
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ struct http_client_ctx {
 #if defined(CONFIG_HTTPS)
 	struct {
 		/** HTTPS stack for mbedtls library. */
-		u8_t *stack;
+		k_thread_stack_t stack;
 
 		/** HTTPS stack size. */
 		int stack_size;
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ int https_client_init(struct http_client_ctx *http_ctx,
 		      const char *cert_host,
 		      https_entropy_src_cb_t entropy_src_cb,
 		      struct k_mem_pool *pool,
-		      u8_t *https_stack,
+		      k_thread_stack_t https_stack,
 		      size_t https_stack_size);
 #endif /* CONFIG_HTTPS */
 
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ struct http_server_ctx {
 #if defined(CONFIG_HTTPS)
 	struct {
 		/** HTTPS stack for mbedtls library. */
-		u8_t *stack;
+		k_thread_stack_t stack;
 
 		/** HTTPS stack size. */
 		int stack_size;
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ int https_server_init(struct http_server_ctx *http_ctx,
 		      https_server_cert_cb_t cert_cb,
 		      https_entropy_src_cb_t entropy_src_cb,
 		      struct k_mem_pool *pool,
-		      u8_t *https_stack,
+		      k_thread_stack_t https_stack,
 		      size_t https_stack_len);
 #endif /* CONFIG_HTTPS */
 
diff --git a/include/net/mqtt.h b/include/net/mqtt.h
index 28559c1dcd8..943f6d033d4 100644
--- a/include/net/mqtt.h
+++ b/include/net/mqtt.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ struct mqtt_ctx {
 
 	/** TLS thread parameters */
 	struct k_mem_pool *tls_mem_pool;
-	u8_t *tls_stack;
+	k_thread_stack_t tls_stack;
 	size_t tls_stack_size;
 
 	/** TLS callback */
diff --git a/include/net/net_app.h b/include/net/net_app.h
index b04b46ad253..e137bf5ec13 100644
--- a/include/net/net_app.h
+++ b/include/net/net_app.h
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ struct net_app_ctx {
 #if defined(CONFIG_NET_APP_TLS)
 	struct {
 		/** TLS stack for mbedtls library. */
-		u8_t *stack;
+		k_thread_stack_t stack;
 
 		/** TLS stack size. */
 		int stack_size;
@@ -899,7 +899,7 @@ int net_app_client_tls(struct net_app_ctx *ctx,
 		       const char *cert_host,
 		       net_app_entropy_src_cb_t entropy_src_cb,
 		       struct k_mem_pool *pool,
-		       u8_t *stack,
+		       k_thread_stack_t stack,
 		       size_t stack_size);
 #endif /* CONFIG_NET_APP_CLIENT */
 
@@ -935,7 +935,7 @@ int net_app_server_tls(struct net_app_ctx *ctx,
 		       net_app_cert_cb_t cert_cb,
 		       net_app_entropy_src_cb_t entropy_src_cb,
 		       struct k_mem_pool *pool,
-		       u8_t *stack,
+		       k_thread_stack_t stack,
 		       size_t stack_len);
 
 bool net_app_server_tls_enable(struct net_app_ctx *ctx);
diff --git a/include/net/net_core.h b/include/net/net_core.h
index 5f1ca2842c1..6db37d120a8 100644
--- a/include/net/net_core.h
+++ b/include/net/net_core.h
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ int net_recv_data(struct net_if *iface, struct net_pkt *pkt);
 int net_send_data(struct net_pkt *pkt);
 
 struct net_stack_info {
-	char *stack;
+	k_thread_stack_t stack;
 	const char *pretty_name;
 	const char *name;
 	size_t orig_size;
diff --git a/kernel/include/nano_internal.h b/kernel/include/nano_internal.h
index e76ae856781..051ffe4565c 100644
--- a/kernel/include/nano_internal.h
+++ b/kernel/include/nano_internal.h
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ FUNC_NORETURN void _Cstart(void);
 extern FUNC_NORETURN void _thread_entry(void (*)(void *, void *, void *),
 			  void *, void *, void *);
 
-extern void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, char *pStack, size_t stackSize,
+extern void _new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, k_thread_stack_t pStack,
+			size_t stackSize,
 			void (*pEntry)(void *, void *, void *),
 			void *p1, void *p2, void *p3,
 			int prio, unsigned int options);
diff --git a/kernel/thread.c b/kernel/thread.c
index 41eb10d314f..f02bb97463a 100644
--- a/kernel/thread.c
+++ b/kernel/thread.c
@@ -249,28 +249,31 @@ static void schedule_new_thread(struct k_thread *thread, s32_t delay)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MULTITHREADING
 
-k_tid_t k_thread_create(struct k_thread *new_thread, char *stack,
+k_tid_t k_thread_create(struct k_thread *new_thread,
+			k_thread_stack_t stack,
 			size_t stack_size, void (*entry)(void *, void *, void*),
 			void *p1, void *p2, void *p3,
 			int prio, u32_t options, s32_t delay)
 {
 	__ASSERT(!_is_in_isr(), "Threads may not be created in ISRs");
-	_new_thread(new_thread, stack, stack_size, entry, p1, p2, p3, prio,
-		    options);
+	_new_thread(new_thread, stack, stack_size, entry, p1, p2, p3,
+		    prio, options);
 
 	schedule_new_thread(new_thread, delay);
 	return new_thread;
 }
 
 
-k_tid_t k_thread_spawn(char *stack, size_t stack_size,
+k_tid_t k_thread_spawn(k_thread_stack_t stack, size_t stack_size,
 			void (*entry)(void *, void *, void*),
 			void *p1, void *p2, void *p3,
 			int prio, u32_t options, s32_t delay)
 {
-	struct k_thread *new_thread = (struct k_thread *)stack;
+	struct k_thread *new_thread =
+		(struct k_thread *)K_THREAD_STACK_BUFFER(stack);
 
-	return k_thread_create(new_thread, stack, stack_size, entry, p1, p2,
+	return k_thread_create(new_thread, stack,
+			       stack_size, entry, p1, p2,
 			       p3, prio, options, delay);
 }
 
diff --git a/kernel/work_q.c b/kernel/work_q.c
index e4867a63c51..1590297e996 100644
--- a/kernel/work_q.c
+++ b/kernel/work_q.c
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ static void work_q_main(void *work_q_ptr, void *p2, void *p3)
 	}
 }
 
-void k_work_q_start(struct k_work_q *work_q, char *stack,
+void k_work_q_start(struct k_work_q *work_q, k_thread_stack_t stack,
 		    size_t stack_size, int prio)
 {
 	k_fifo_init(&work_q->fifo);
diff --git a/subsys/net/lib/app/client.c b/subsys/net/lib/app/client.c
index 7d19f117539..431093db097 100644
--- a/subsys/net/lib/app/client.c
+++ b/subsys/net/lib/app/client.c
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ int net_app_client_tls(struct net_app_ctx *ctx,
 		       const char *cert_host,
 		       net_app_entropy_src_cb_t entropy_src_cb,
 		       struct k_mem_pool *pool,
-		       u8_t *stack,
+		       k_thread_stack_t stack,
 		       size_t stack_size)
 {
 	if (!request_buf || request_buf_len == 0) {
diff --git a/subsys/net/lib/app/server.c b/subsys/net/lib/app/server.c
index 06b10d31762..78e32280a98 100644
--- a/subsys/net/lib/app/server.c
+++ b/subsys/net/lib/app/server.c
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ int net_app_server_tls(struct net_app_ctx *ctx,
 		       net_app_cert_cb_t cert_cb,
 		       net_app_entropy_src_cb_t entropy_src_cb,
 		       struct k_mem_pool *pool,
-		       u8_t *stack,
+		       k_thread_stack_t stack,
 		       size_t stack_size)
 {
 	if (!request_buf || request_buf_len == 0) {
diff --git a/subsys/net/lib/http/http_client.c b/subsys/net/lib/http/http_client.c
index d65fa5e7132..1f2e80c2d6f 100644
--- a/subsys/net/lib/http/http_client.c
+++ b/subsys/net/lib/http/http_client.c
@@ -1635,7 +1635,7 @@ int https_client_init(struct http_client_ctx *ctx,
 		      const char *cert_host,
 		      https_entropy_src_cb_t entropy_src_cb,
 		      struct k_mem_pool *pool,
-		      u8_t *https_stack,
+		      k_thread_stack_t https_stack,
 		      size_t https_stack_size)
 {
 	int ret;
diff --git a/subsys/net/lib/http/http_server.c b/subsys/net/lib/http/http_server.c
index d0198172a7f..adc4f00fdb8 100644
--- a/subsys/net/lib/http/http_server.c
+++ b/subsys/net/lib/http/http_server.c
@@ -1575,7 +1575,7 @@ int https_server_init(struct http_server_ctx *ctx,
 		      https_server_cert_cb_t cert_cb,
 		      https_entropy_src_cb_t entropy_src_cb,
 		      struct k_mem_pool *pool,
-		      u8_t *https_stack,
+		      k_thread_stack_t https_stack,
 		      size_t https_stack_size)
 {
 	int ret;
diff --git a/tests/kernel/fatal/src/main.c b/tests/kernel/fatal/src/main.c
index 805452a7f7d..e675b665ee6 100644
--- a/tests/kernel/fatal/src/main.c
+++ b/tests/kernel/fatal/src/main.c
@@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ static K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE(alt_stack, STACKSIZE);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_SENTINEL
 #define OVERFLOW_STACKSIZE 1024
-static char *overflow_stack = alt_stack + (STACKSIZE - OVERFLOW_STACKSIZE);
+static k_thread_stack_t overflow_stack =
+		alt_stack + (STACKSIZE - OVERFLOW_STACKSIZE);
 #else
 #define OVERFLOW_STACKSIZE STACKSIZE
 #endif