diff --git a/kernel/Makefile b/kernel/Makefile
index 2093a691f1c..d0c84e6bf50 100644
--- a/kernel/Makefile
+++ b/kernel/Makefile
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ $(obj)/config_data.gz: .config FORCE
 	$(call if_changed,gzip)
 
 quiet_cmd_ikconfiggz = IKCFG   $@
-      cmd_ikconfiggz = (echo "static const char kernel_config_data[] = MAGIC_START"; cat $< | scripts/bin2c; echo "MAGIC_END;") > $@
+      cmd_ikconfiggz = (echo "static const char kernel_config_data[] __used = MAGIC_START"; cat $< | scripts/bin2c; echo "MAGIC_END;") > $@
 targets += config_data.h
 $(obj)/config_data.h: $(obj)/config_data.gz FORCE
 	$(call if_changed,ikconfiggz)