diff --git a/cpu/atmega_common/cpu.c b/cpu/atmega_common/cpu.c
index 423d2efc82..11fdeba5b2 100644
--- a/cpu/atmega_common/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/atmega_common/cpu.c
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
 */
 uint8_t mcusr_mirror __attribute__((section(".noinit")));
 uint8_t soft_rst __attribute__((section(".noinit")));
+uint8_t atmega_state = 0;
 void get_mcusr(void) __attribute__((naked, section(".init0"), used));
 
 void get_mcusr(void)
diff --git a/cpu/atmega_common/irq_arch.c b/cpu/atmega_common/irq_arch.c
index 25c374e933..a65af00b51 100644
--- a/cpu/atmega_common/irq_arch.c
+++ b/cpu/atmega_common/irq_arch.c
@@ -33,8 +33,6 @@
 static uint8_t atmega_get_interrupt_state(void);
 static void atmega_set_interrupt_state(uint8_t state);
 
-uint8_t atmega_state = 0;
-
 __attribute__((always_inline)) static inline uint8_t atmega_get_interrupt_state(void)
 {
     uint8_t sreg;