diff --git a/include/qemu/compiler.h b/include/qemu/compiler.h
index d620a841e4..cf28bb2bcd 100644
--- a/include/qemu/compiler.h
+++ b/include/qemu/compiler.h
@@ -215,9 +215,10 @@
  * supports QEMU_ERROR, this will be reported at compile time; otherwise
  * this will be reported at link time due to the missing symbol.
  */
-#if defined(__OPTIMIZE__) && !defined(__NO_INLINE__)
 extern void QEMU_NORETURN QEMU_ERROR("code path is reachable")
-    qemu_build_not_reached(void);
+    qemu_build_not_reached_always(void);
+#if defined(__OPTIMIZE__) && !defined(__NO_INLINE__)
+#define qemu_build_not_reached()  qemu_build_not_reached_always()
 #else
 #define qemu_build_not_reached()  g_assert_not_reached()
 #endif