diff --git a/include/debug/object_tracing_common.h b/include/debug/object_tracing_common.h
index f625752069b..2c3a15df988 100644
--- a/include/debug/object_tracing_common.h
+++ b/include/debug/object_tracing_common.h
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
 
 struct ring_buf;
 
-struct ring_buf   *_trace_list_sys_ring_buf;
+extern struct ring_buf   *_trace_list_sys_ring_buf;
 
 #endif  /*CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING*/
 #endif  /*_OBJECT_TRACING_COMMON_H_*/