diff --git a/board/ge/b1x5v2/b1x5v2.c b/board/ge/b1x5v2/b1x5v2.c
index de4cb0d5af..a2cbd1512e 100644
--- a/board/ge/b1x5v2/b1x5v2.c
+++ b/board/ge/b1x5v2/b1x5v2.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 #include <panel.h>
 #include <rtc.h>
 #include <spi_flash.h>
-#include <version.h>
+#include <version_string.h>
 
 #include "../common/vpd_reader.h"
 
diff --git a/board/ge/bx50v3/bx50v3.c b/board/ge/bx50v3/bx50v3.c
index 7fcebba026..ed700f4e1d 100644
--- a/board/ge/bx50v3/bx50v3.c
+++ b/board/ge/bx50v3/bx50v3.c
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 #include <power/pmic.h>
 #include <input.h>
 #include <pwm.h>
-#include <version.h>
+#include <version_string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <dm/root.h>
 #include "../common/ge_rtc.h"
diff --git a/board/ge/mx53ppd/mx53ppd.c b/board/ge/mx53ppd/mx53ppd.c
index 9c48883648..cc462d53da 100644
--- a/board/ge/mx53ppd/mx53ppd.c
+++ b/board/ge/mx53ppd/mx53ppd.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 #include <fsl_pmic.h>
 #include <linux/fb.h>
 #include <ipu_pixfmt.h>
-#include <version.h>
+#include <version_string.h>
 #include <watchdog.h>
 #include "ppd_gpio.h"
 #include <stdlib.h>
diff --git a/cmd/version.c b/cmd/version.c
index 685b458ce2..965ac2e214 100644
--- a/cmd/version.c
+++ b/cmd/version.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <common.h>
 #include <command.h>
 #include <version.h>
+#include <version_string.h>
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #ifdef CONFIG_SYS_COREBOOT
 #include <asm/cb_sysinfo.h>
diff --git a/common/main.c b/common/main.c
index ae5bcdb32f..3f5214fd44 100644
--- a/common/main.c
+++ b/common/main.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 #include <env.h>
 #include <init.h>
 #include <net.h>
-#include <version.h>
+#include <version_string.h>
 #include <efi_loader.h>
 
 static void run_preboot_environment_command(void)
diff --git a/drivers/video/cfb_console.c b/drivers/video/cfb_console.c
index 5e1ee061e8..830ea80f4b 100644
--- a/drivers/video/cfb_console.c
+++ b/drivers/video/cfb_console.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
 #include <fdtdec.h>
 #include <gzip.h>
 #include <log.h>
-#include <version.h>
+#include <version_string.h>
 #include <malloc.h>
 #include <video.h>
 #include <asm/global_data.h>
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@
  * Console device
  */
 
-#include <version.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <stdio_dev.h>
 #include <video_font.h>
diff --git a/include/version.h b/include/version.h
index 2d24451569..0a3b29adb8 100644
--- a/include/version.h
+++ b/include/version.h
@@ -16,7 +16,4 @@
 #define U_BOOT_VERSION_STRING U_BOOT_VERSION " (" U_BOOT_DATE " - " \
 	U_BOOT_TIME " " U_BOOT_TZ ")" CONFIG_IDENT_STRING
 
-#ifndef __ASSEMBLY__
-extern const char version_string[];
-#endif	/* __ASSEMBLY__ */
 #endif	/* __VERSION_H__ */
diff --git a/include/version_string.h b/include/version_string.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a89a6e4370
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/version_string.h
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+/* SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0+ */
+
+#ifndef	__VERSION_STRING_H__
+#define	__VERSION_STRING_H__
+
+extern const char version_string[];
+
+#endif	/* __VERSION_STRING_H__ */
diff --git a/lib/display_options.c b/lib/display_options.c
index 4da1f5244f..360b01bcf5 100644
--- a/lib/display_options.c
+++ b/lib/display_options.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #include <compiler.h>
 #include <console.h>
 #include <div64.h>
-#include <version.h>
+#include <version_string.h>
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
 #include <asm/io.h>
 
diff --git a/lib/efi_loader/efi_tcg2.c b/lib/efi_loader/efi_tcg2.c
index 578b69e38f..7bacf9ce29 100644
--- a/lib/efi_loader/efi_tcg2.c
+++ b/lib/efi_loader/efi_tcg2.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 #include <efi_tcg2.h>
 #include <log.h>
 #include <malloc.h>
-#include <version.h>
+#include <version_string.h>
 #include <tpm-v2.h>
 #include <u-boot/hash-checksum.h>
 #include <u-boot/sha1.h>
diff --git a/test/print_ut.c b/test/print_ut.c
index e2bcfbef00..11d8580e55 100644
--- a/test/print_ut.c
+++ b/test/print_ut.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include <display_options.h>
 #include <log.h>
 #include <mapmem.h>
-#include <version.h>
+#include <version_string.h>
 #include <test/suites.h>
 #include <test/test.h>
 #include <test/ut.h>