diff --git a/include/linux/printk.h b/include/linux/printk.h
index cf3eccfe1543..5a8ef10b4492 100644
--- a/include/linux/printk.h
+++ b/include/linux/printk.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #include <linux/linkage.h>
 #include <linux/cache.h>
 
-extern const char linux_banner[];
+extern const char *linux_banner;
 extern const char linux_proc_banner[];
 
 #define PRINTK_MAX_SINGLE_HEADER_LEN 2
diff --git a/init/version.c b/init/version.c
index 61bcdf3c00a1..9cbe50e3dfc4 100644
--- a/init/version.c
+++ b/init/version.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ struct uts_namespace init_uts_ns = {
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(init_uts_ns);
 
 /* FIXED STRINGS! Don't touch! */
-const char linux_banner[] =
+const char *linux_banner =
 	"Linux version " UTS_RELEASE " (" LINUX_COMPILE_BY "@"
 	LINUX_COMPILE_HOST ") (" LINUX_COMPILER ") " UTS_VERSION "\n";
 EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(linux_banner);