diff --git a/arch/arc/core/fault.c b/arch/arc/core/fault.c
index 065ed2df24a..da4af705f3a 100644
--- a/arch/arc/core/fault.c
+++ b/arch/arc/core/fault.c
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 #include <exc_handle.h>
 #include <logging/log_ctrl.h>
 
-u32_t arc_exc_saved_sp;
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_USERSPACE
 Z_EXC_DECLARE(z_arch_user_string_nlen);
@@ -363,7 +362,7 @@ static void dump_exception_info(u32_t vector, u32_t cause, u32_t parameter)
  * invokes the user provided routine k_sys_fatal_error_handler() which is
  * responsible for implementing the error handling policy.
  */
-void _Fault(z_arch_esf_t *esf)
+void _Fault(z_arch_esf_t *esf, u32_t old_sp)
 {
 	u32_t vector, cause, parameter;
 	u32_t exc_addr = z_arc_v2_aux_reg_read(_ARC_V2_EFA);
@@ -413,7 +412,7 @@ void _Fault(z_arch_esf_t *esf)
 #ifdef CONFIG_MPU_STACK_GUARD
 	if (vector == ARC_EV_PROT_V && ((parameter == 0x4) ||
 					(parameter == 0x24))) {
-		if (z_check_thread_stack_fail(exc_addr, arc_exc_saved_sp)) {
+		if (z_check_thread_stack_fail(exc_addr, old_sp)) {
 			z_arc_fatal_error(K_ERR_STACK_CHK_FAIL, esf);
 			return;
 		}
diff --git a/arch/arc/core/fault_s.S b/arch/arc/core/fault_s.S
index 86b087069ad..bc1b1dea3ea 100644
--- a/arch/arc/core/fault_s.S
+++ b/arch/arc/core/fault_s.S
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ GTEXT(z_irq_do_offload);
 #endif
 
 GDATA(exc_nest_count)
-GDATA(arc_exc_saved_sWWp)
 
 /* the necessary stack size for exception handling */
 #define EXCEPTION_STACK_SIZE 384
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ SECTION_SUBSEC_FUNC(TEXT,__fault,__ev_dc_error)
 SECTION_SUBSEC_FUNC(TEXT,__fault,__ev_maligned)
 
 _exc_entry:
-	st sp, [arc_exc_saved_sp]
+	mov_s ilink, sp
 	/*
 	 * re-use the top part of interrupt stack as exception
 	 * stack. If this top part is used by interrupt handling,
@@ -94,6 +93,8 @@ _exc_entry:
 
 	/* sp is parameter of _Fault */
 	mov r0, sp
+	/* ilink is the thread's original sp */
+	mov r1, ilink
 	jl _Fault
 
 _exc_return:
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ _exc_return_from_exc:
 	sr r0, [_ARC_V2_ERET]
 
 	_pop_irq_stack_frame
-	ld sp, [arc_exc_saved_sp]
+	mov sp, ilink
 	rtie