diff --git a/drivers/serial/serial_xuartlite.c b/drivers/serial/serial_xuartlite.c
index b6197da97cc..35df413321f 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/serial_xuartlite.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/serial_xuartlite.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 #define ULITE_CONTROL_RST_TX	0x01
 #define ULITE_CONTROL_RST_RX	0x02
 
-static bool little_endian;
+static bool little_endian __section(".data");
 
 struct uartlite {
 	unsigned int rx_fifo;