diff --git a/cpu/ixp/cpu.c b/cpu/ixp/cpu.c
index 9383473..2a2bd50 100644
--- a/cpu/ixp/cpu.c
+++ b/cpu/ixp/cpu.c
@@ -34,14 +34,16 @@
 #include <command.h>
 #include <asm/arch/ixp425.h>
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_USE_IRQ
+DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
+#endif
+
 int cpu_init (void)
 {
 	/*
 	 * setup up stacks if necessary
 	 */
 #ifdef CONFIG_USE_IRQ
-	DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
-
 	IRQ_STACK_START = _armboot_start - CFG_MALLOC_LEN - CFG_GBL_DATA_SIZE - 4;
 	FIQ_STACK_START = IRQ_STACK_START - CONFIG_STACKSIZE_IRQ;
 #endif
diff --git a/cpu/ixp/serial.c b/cpu/ixp/serial.c
index aea0cf8..2015958 100644
--- a/cpu/ixp/serial.c
+++ b/cpu/ixp/serial.c
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@
 #include <common.h>
 #include <asm/arch/ixp425.h>
 
+DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
+
 void serial_setbrg (void)
 {
-	DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
-
 	unsigned int quot = 0;
 	int uart = CFG_IXP425_CONSOLE;