diff --git a/include/zephyr/types.h b/include/zephyr/types.h
index 80e80d4de74..7e5e87b2ce3 100644
--- a/include/zephyr/types.h
+++ b/include/zephyr/types.h
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ typedef union {
 	void            (*thepfunc)(void);
 } z_max_align_t;
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+/* Zephyr requires an int main(void) signature with C linkage for the application main if present */
+extern int main(void);
+#endif
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif