diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/bp_account.c b/tools/perf/tests/bp_account.c
index d0b935356274..489b50604cf2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/bp_account.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/bp_account.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 #include "../perf-sys.h"
 #include "cloexec.h"
 
-volatile long the_var;
+static volatile long the_var;
 
 static noinline int test_function(void)
 {