diff --git a/ext/hal/cmsis/CMakeLists.txt b/ext/hal/cmsis/CMakeLists.txt
index 76313b4dd72..80e9cdb2672 100644
--- a/ext/hal/cmsis/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ext/hal/cmsis/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
 if(CONFIG_HAS_CMSIS)
   zephyr_include_directories(Include)
 endif()
+
+# As of CMSIS v5.6.0, __PROGRAM_START is to indicate whether the
+# ARM vendor or the OS supplies data/bss init routine, otherwise
+# the default data/bss init routine for the selected toolchain is
+# added. We set the macro in build-time to guarantee compatibility
+# with all existing ARM platforms.
+
+zephyr_compile_definitions(__PROGRAM_START)