diff --git a/kernel/init.c b/kernel/init.c
index f7d05e18110..232a9480386 100644
--- a/kernel/init.c
+++ b/kernel/init.c
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ uint32_t __noinit z_timestamp_main;  /* timestamp when main task starts */
 uint32_t __noinit z_timestamp_idle;  /* timestamp when CPU goes idle */
 #endif
 
+/* the only struct z_kernel instance */
+struct z_kernel _kernel;
+
 /* init/main and idle threads */
 K_THREAD_STACK_DEFINE(z_main_stack, CONFIG_MAIN_STACK_SIZE);
 struct k_thread z_main_thread;
diff --git a/kernel/sched.c b/kernel/sched.c
index 372ddc6ac34..edbabdad175 100644
--- a/kernel/sched.c
+++ b/kernel/sched.c
@@ -46,9 +46,6 @@ LOG_MODULE_DECLARE(os, CONFIG_KERNEL_LOG_LEVEL);
 #define _priq_wait_best		z_priq_dumb_best
 #endif
 
-/* the only struct z_kernel instance */
-struct z_kernel _kernel;
-
 struct k_spinlock sched_spinlock;
 
 static void update_cache(int);