diff --git a/include/linker/common-ram.ld b/include/linker/common-ram.ld
index edda3a0fcfc..b16adfaa539 100644
--- a/include/linker/common-ram.ld
+++ b/include/linker/common-ram.ld
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@
 
 	SECTION_DATA_PROLOGUE(_static_thread_area,,SUBALIGN(4))
 	{
-		_static_thread_data_list_start = .;
+		__static_thread_data_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(SORT_BY_NAME(".__static_thread_data.static.*")))
-		_static_thread_data_list_end = .;
+		__static_thread_data_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_DATA_LINK_IN(RAMABLE_REGION, ROMABLE_REGION)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_USERSPACE
diff --git a/include/linker/common-rom.ld b/include/linker/common-rom.ld
index 44ee750241c..2863b5dff61 100644
--- a/include/linker/common-rom.ld
+++ b/include/linker/common-rom.ld
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@
 	 */
 	SECTION_PROLOGUE(object_access,,)
 	{
-		__object_access_start = .;
+		__k_object_assignment_list_start = .;
 		KEEP(*(".__k_object_assignment.*"))
-		__object_access_end = .;
+		__k_object_assignment_list_end = .;
 	} GROUP_LINK_IN(ROMABLE_REGION)
 #endif
 
diff --git a/include/toolchain/common.h b/include/toolchain/common.h
index 85f5f2a6423..b8ca11dd1bc 100644
--- a/include/toolchain/common.h
+++ b/include/toolchain/common.h
@@ -172,4 +172,20 @@
 	Z_DECL_ALIGN(struct struct_type) name \
 	__in_section(_##struct_type, static, name) __used
 
+/*
+ * Itterator for structure instances gathered by Z_STRUCT_SECTION_ITERABLE().
+ * The linker must provide a _<struct_type>_list_start symbol and a
+ * _<struct_type>_list_end symbol to mark the start and the end of the
+ * list of struct objects to iterate over.
+ */
+#define Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(struct_type, iterator) \
+	extern struct struct_type _CONCAT(_##struct_type, _list_start)[]; \
+	extern struct struct_type _CONCAT(_##struct_type, _list_end)[]; \
+	for (struct struct_type *iterator = \
+			_CONCAT(_##struct_type, _list_start); \
+	     ({ __ASSERT(iterator <= _CONCAT(_##struct_type, _list_end), \
+			 "unexpected list end location"); \
+		iterator < _CONCAT(_##struct_type, _list_end); }); \
+	     iterator++)
+
 #endif /* ZEPHYR_INCLUDE_TOOLCHAIN_COMMON_H_ */
diff --git a/kernel/mailbox.c b/kernel/mailbox.c
index 3668025cb7a..22190f8cf3c 100644
--- a/kernel/mailbox.c
+++ b/kernel/mailbox.c
@@ -43,9 +43,6 @@ static inline void mbox_async_free(struct k_mbox_async *async)
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_NUM_MBOX_ASYNC_MSGS > 0 */
 
-extern struct k_mbox _k_mbox_list_start[];
-extern struct k_mbox _k_mbox_list_end[];
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING
 struct k_mbox *_trace_list_k_mbox;
 #endif	/* CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING */
@@ -87,9 +84,7 @@ static int init_mbox_module(struct device *dev)
 	/* Complete initialization of statically defined mailboxes. */
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING
-	struct k_mbox *mbox;
-
-	for (mbox = _k_mbox_list_start; mbox < _k_mbox_list_end; mbox++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_mbox, mbox) {
 		SYS_TRACING_OBJ_INIT(k_mbox, mbox);
 	}
 #endif /* CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING */
diff --git a/kernel/mem_slab.c b/kernel/mem_slab.c
index b78aef0a59f..8efcd156420 100644
--- a/kernel/mem_slab.c
+++ b/kernel/mem_slab.c
@@ -14,9 +14,6 @@
 #include <ksched.h>
 #include <init.h>
 
-extern struct k_mem_slab _k_mem_slab_list_start[];
-extern struct k_mem_slab _k_mem_slab_list_end[];
-
 static struct k_spinlock lock;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING
@@ -57,11 +54,7 @@ static int init_mem_slab_module(struct device *dev)
 {
 	ARG_UNUSED(dev);
 
-	struct k_mem_slab *slab;
-
-	for (slab = _k_mem_slab_list_start;
-	     slab < _k_mem_slab_list_end;
-	     slab++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_mem_slab, slab) {
 		create_free_list(slab);
 		SYS_TRACING_OBJ_INIT(k_mem_slab, slab);
 		z_object_init(slab);
diff --git a/kernel/mempool.c b/kernel/mempool.c
index f124447ae34..83ac347a456 100644
--- a/kernel/mempool.c
+++ b/kernel/mempool.c
@@ -13,19 +13,17 @@
 #include <misc/math_extras.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
-/* Linker-defined symbols bound the static pool structs */
-extern struct k_mem_pool _k_mem_pool_list_start[];
-extern struct k_mem_pool _k_mem_pool_list_end[];
-
 static struct k_spinlock lock;
 
 static struct k_mem_pool *get_pool(int id)
 {
+	extern struct k_mem_pool _k_mem_pool_list_start[];
 	return &_k_mem_pool_list_start[id];
 }
 
 static int pool_id(struct k_mem_pool *pool)
 {
+	extern struct k_mem_pool _k_mem_pool_list_start[];
 	return pool - &_k_mem_pool_list_start[0];
 }
 
@@ -38,9 +36,8 @@ static void k_mem_pool_init(struct k_mem_pool *p)
 int init_static_pools(struct device *unused)
 {
 	ARG_UNUSED(unused);
-	struct k_mem_pool *p;
 
-	for (p = _k_mem_pool_list_start; p < _k_mem_pool_list_end; p++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_mem_pool, p) {
 		k_mem_pool_init(p);
 	}
 
diff --git a/kernel/msg_q.c b/kernel/msg_q.c
index 1ab3fdc8529..adf7dacae74 100644
--- a/kernel/msg_q.c
+++ b/kernel/msg_q.c
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@
 #include <syscall_handler.h>
 #include <kernel_internal.h>
 
-extern struct k_msgq _k_msgq_list_start[];
-extern struct k_msgq _k_msgq_list_end[];
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING
 
 struct k_msgq *_trace_list_k_msgq;
@@ -37,9 +34,7 @@ static int init_msgq_module(struct device *dev)
 {
 	ARG_UNUSED(dev);
 
-	struct k_msgq *msgq;
-
-	for (msgq = _k_msgq_list_start; msgq < _k_msgq_list_end; msgq++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_msgq, msgq) {
 		SYS_TRACING_OBJ_INIT(k_msgq, msgq);
 	}
 	return 0;
diff --git a/kernel/mutex.c b/kernel/mutex.c
index c6225b62fd3..d5142158741 100644
--- a/kernel/mutex.c
+++ b/kernel/mutex.c
@@ -38,9 +38,6 @@
 #include <syscall_handler.h>
 #include <tracing.h>
 
-extern struct k_mutex _k_mutex_list_start[];
-extern struct k_mutex _k_mutex_list_end[];
-
 /* We use a global spinlock here because some of the synchronization
  * is protecting things like owner thread priorities which aren't
  * "part of" a single k_mutex.  Should move those bits of the API
@@ -59,9 +56,7 @@ static int init_mutex_module(struct device *dev)
 {
 	ARG_UNUSED(dev);
 
-	struct k_mutex *mutex;
-
-	for (mutex = _k_mutex_list_start; mutex < _k_mutex_list_end; mutex++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_mutex, mutex) {
 		SYS_TRACING_OBJ_INIT(k_mutex, mutex);
 	}
 	return 0;
diff --git a/kernel/pipes.c b/kernel/pipes.c
index e882fdc2e67..b61d61eef58 100644
--- a/kernel/pipes.c
+++ b/kernel/pipes.c
@@ -37,9 +37,6 @@ struct k_pipe_async {
 	struct k_pipe_desc  desc;     /* Pipe message descriptor */
 };
 
-extern struct k_pipe _k_pipe_list_start[];
-extern struct k_pipe _k_pipe_list_end[];
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING
 struct k_pipe *_trace_list_k_pipe;
 #endif	/* CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING */
@@ -118,9 +115,7 @@ static int init_pipes_module(struct device *dev)
 	/* Complete initialization of statically defined mailboxes. */
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING
-	struct k_pipe *pipe;
-
-	for (pipe = _k_pipe_list_start; pipe < _k_pipe_list_end; pipe++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_pipe, pipe) {
 		SYS_TRACING_OBJ_INIT(k_pipe, pipe);
 	}
 #endif /* CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING */
diff --git a/kernel/queue.c b/kernel/queue.c
index 77262f34453..028808122e4 100644
--- a/kernel/queue.c
+++ b/kernel/queue.c
@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@
 #include <syscall_handler.h>
 #include <kernel_internal.h>
 
-extern struct k_queue _k_queue_list_start[];
-extern struct k_queue _k_queue_list_end[];
-
 struct alloc_node {
 	sys_sfnode_t node;
 	void *data;
@@ -70,9 +67,7 @@ static int init_queue_module(struct device *dev)
 {
 	ARG_UNUSED(dev);
 
-	struct k_queue *queue;
-
-	for (queue = _k_queue_list_start; queue < _k_queue_list_end; queue++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_queue, queue) {
 		SYS_TRACING_OBJ_INIT(k_queue, queue);
 	}
 	return 0;
diff --git a/kernel/sem.c b/kernel/sem.c
index e06d4ef8bf7..f6f5bb9afe6 100644
--- a/kernel/sem.c
+++ b/kernel/sem.c
@@ -29,9 +29,6 @@
 #include <syscall_handler.h>
 #include <tracing.h>
 
-extern struct k_sem _k_sem_list_start[];
-extern struct k_sem _k_sem_list_end[];
-
 /* We use a system-wide lock to synchronize semaphores, which has
  * unfortunate performance impact vs. using a per-object lock
  * (semaphores are *very* widely used).  But per-object locks require
@@ -52,9 +49,7 @@ static int init_sem_module(struct device *dev)
 {
 	ARG_UNUSED(dev);
 
-	struct k_sem *sem;
-
-	for (sem = _k_sem_list_start; sem < _k_sem_list_end; sem++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_sem, sem) {
 		SYS_TRACING_OBJ_INIT(k_sem, sem);
 	}
 	return 0;
diff --git a/kernel/stack.c b/kernel/stack.c
index dea08ba0c73..9050eafeb4a 100644
--- a/kernel/stack.c
+++ b/kernel/stack.c
@@ -20,9 +20,6 @@
 #include <syscall_handler.h>
 #include <kernel_internal.h>
 
-extern struct k_stack _k_stack_list_start[];
-extern struct k_stack _k_stack_list_end[];
-
 #ifdef CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING
 
 struct k_stack *_trace_list_k_stack;
@@ -34,9 +31,7 @@ static int init_stack_module(struct device *dev)
 {
 	ARG_UNUSED(dev);
 
-	struct k_stack *stack;
-
-	for (stack = _k_stack_list_start; stack < _k_stack_list_end; stack++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_stack, stack) {
 		SYS_TRACING_OBJ_INIT(k_stack, stack);
 	}
 	return 0;
diff --git a/kernel/thread.c b/kernel/thread.c
index 9a0ac2e60d6..de40fa7c804 100644
--- a/kernel/thread.c
+++ b/kernel/thread.c
@@ -32,16 +32,10 @@
 #include <tracing.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 
-extern struct _static_thread_data _static_thread_data_list_start[];
-extern struct _static_thread_data _static_thread_data_list_end[];
-
 static struct k_spinlock lock;
 
 #define _FOREACH_STATIC_THREAD(thread_data)              \
-	for (struct _static_thread_data *thread_data =   \
-	     _static_thread_data_list_start;             \
-	     thread_data < _static_thread_data_list_end; \
-	     thread_data++)
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(_static_thread_data, thread_data)
 
 void k_thread_foreach(k_thread_user_cb_t user_cb, void *user_data)
 {
@@ -614,16 +608,10 @@ void z_thread_single_abort(struct k_thread *thread)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MULTITHREADING
 #ifdef CONFIG_USERSPACE
-extern char __object_access_start[];
-extern char __object_access_end[];
 
 static void grant_static_access(void)
 {
-	struct _k_object_assignment *pos;
-
-	for (pos = (struct _k_object_assignment *)__object_access_start;
-	     pos < (struct _k_object_assignment *)__object_access_end;
-	     pos++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(_k_object_assignment, pos) {
 		for (int i = 0; pos->objects[i] != NULL; i++) {
 			k_object_access_grant(pos->objects[i],
 					      pos->thread);
diff --git a/kernel/timer.c b/kernel/timer.c
index 6bf8a54fb8a..cbb79684729 100644
--- a/kernel/timer.c
+++ b/kernel/timer.c
@@ -12,9 +12,6 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <spinlock.h>
 
-extern struct k_timer _k_timer_list_start[];
-extern struct k_timer _k_timer_list_end[];
-
 static struct k_spinlock lock;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_OBJECT_TRACING
@@ -28,9 +25,7 @@ static int init_timer_module(struct device *dev)
 {
 	ARG_UNUSED(dev);
 
-	struct k_timer *timer;
-
-	for (timer = _k_timer_list_start; timer < _k_timer_list_end; timer++) {
+	Z_STRUCT_SECTION_FOREACH(k_timer, timer) {
 		SYS_TRACING_OBJ_INIT(k_timer, timer);
 	}
 	return 0;