diff --git a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
index d6b945f5b887..4baa9bce02b6 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/busses/i2c-i801.c
@@ -1078,7 +1078,7 @@ static const struct pci_device_id i801_ids[] = {
 MODULE_DEVICE_TABLE(pci, i801_ids);
 
 #if defined CONFIG_X86 && defined CONFIG_DMI
-static unsigned char apanel_addr;
+static unsigned char apanel_addr __ro_after_init;
 
 /* Scan the system ROM for the signature "FJKEYINF" */
 static __init const void __iomem *bios_signature(const void __iomem *bios)