diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/sched_ext/dequeue.c b/tools/testing/selftests/sched_ext/dequeue.c
index 4e93262703ca..383d06e972a4 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/sched_ext/dequeue.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/sched_ext/dequeue.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ static void worker_fn(int id)
 		/* Do some work to trigger scheduling events */
 		for (j = 0; j < 10000; j++)
 			sum += j;
+		asm volatile("" : : "r"(sum));
 
 		/* Sleep to trigger dequeue */
 		usleep(1000 + (id * 100));