diff --git a/tools/objtool/check.c b/tools/objtool/check.c
index e128d1c71c30..3ff025b64527 100644
--- a/tools/objtool/check.c
+++ b/tools/objtool/check.c
@@ -2132,9 +2132,10 @@ static void cleanup(struct objtool_file *file)
 	elf_close(file->elf);
 }
 
+static struct objtool_file file;
+
 int check(const char *_objname, bool orc)
 {
-	struct objtool_file file;
 	int ret, warnings = 0;
 
 	objname = _objname;