diff --git a/kernel/include/kernel_internal.h b/kernel/include/kernel_internal.h
index 4ad0d54117a..e55c73fa6f0 100644
--- a/kernel/include/kernel_internal.h
+++ b/kernel/include/kernel_internal.h
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ extern struct k_thread z_main_thread;
 #ifdef CONFIG_MULTITHREADING
 extern struct k_thread z_idle_threads[CONFIG_MP_NUM_CPUS];
 #endif
-extern K_KERNEL_STACK_ARRAY_DEFINE(z_interrupt_stacks, CONFIG_MP_NUM_CPUS,
+K_KERNEL_PINNED_STACK_ARRAY_EXTERN(z_interrupt_stacks, CONFIG_MP_NUM_CPUS,
 				   CONFIG_ISR_STACK_SIZE);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_GEN_PRIV_STACKS