diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/kgdb.c b/arch/x86/kernel/kgdb.c
index 3f61904365cf..836f8322960e 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/kgdb.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/kgdb.c
@@ -746,7 +746,9 @@ void kgdb_arch_set_pc(struct pt_regs *regs, unsigned long ip)
 int kgdb_arch_set_breakpoint(struct kgdb_bkpt *bpt)
 {
 	int err;
+#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA
 	char opc[BREAK_INSTR_SIZE];
+#endif /* CONFIG_DEBUG_RODATA */
 
 	bpt->type = BP_BREAKPOINT;
 	err = probe_kernel_read(bpt->saved_instr, (char *)bpt->bpt_addr,