diff --git a/include/asm-generic/vmlinux.lds.h b/include/asm-generic/vmlinux.lds.h
index d1f57e4868ed..371026ca7221 100644
--- a/include/asm-generic/vmlinux.lds.h
+++ b/include/asm-generic/vmlinux.lds.h
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@
 /* init and exit section handling */
 #define INIT_DATA							\
 	KEEP(*(SORT(___kentry+*)))					\
-	*(.init.data init.data.*)					\
+	*(.init.data .init.data.*)					\
 	MEM_DISCARD(init.data*)						\
 	KERNEL_CTORS()							\
 	MCOUNT_REC()							\