diff --git a/cpu/riscv_common/irq_arch.c b/cpu/riscv_common/irq_arch.c
index 5b3507a84f05..f17391b55108 100644
--- a/cpu/riscv_common/irq_arch.c
+++ b/cpu/riscv_common/irq_arch.c
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void riscv_irq_init(void)
 /**
  * @brief Global trap and interrupt handler
  */
-void handle_trap(uint32_t mcause)
+static void __attribute((used)) handle_trap(uint32_t mcause)
 {
     /*  Tell RIOT to set sched_context_switch_request instead of
      *  calling thread_yield(). */