diff --git a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.c b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.c
index f3a2f228f648..b404cc46cbda 100644
--- a/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.c
+++ b/drivers/char/ipmi/ipmi_msghandler.c
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ struct ipmi_user {
 	struct work_struct remove_work;
 };
 
-struct workqueue_struct *remove_work_wq;
+static struct workqueue_struct *remove_work_wq;
 
 static struct ipmi_user *acquire_ipmi_user(struct ipmi_user *user, int *index)
 	__acquires(user->release_barrier)