diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/ringbuf.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/ringbuf.c
index bb8541f240e2..2bba908dfa63 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/ringbuf.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/ringbuf.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ struct sample {
 	char comm[16];
 };
 
-static int sample_cnt;
+static volatile int sample_cnt;
 
 static int process_sample(void *ctx, void *data, size_t len)
 {