diff --git a/arch/ia64/kernel/vmlinux.lds.S b/arch/ia64/kernel/vmlinux.lds.S
index 787de4a77d82..53c0ba004e9e 100644
--- a/arch/ia64/kernel/vmlinux.lds.S
+++ b/arch/ia64/kernel/vmlinux.lds.S
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ SECTIONS {
 	data : {
 	} :data
 	.data : AT(ADDR(.data) - LOAD_OFFSET) {
+		_sdata  =  .;
 		INIT_TASK_DATA(PAGE_SIZE)
 		CACHELINE_ALIGNED_DATA(SMP_CACHE_BYTES)
 		READ_MOSTLY_DATA(SMP_CACHE_BYTES)