diff --git a/sched/misc/assert.c b/sched/misc/assert.c
index b63f664c28..1f0fa0bdd5 100644
--- a/sched/misc/assert.c
+++ b/sched/misc/assert.c
@@ -514,8 +514,8 @@ void _assert(FAR const char *filename, int linenum,
 #endif
   struct panic_notifier_s notifier_data;
   struct utsname name;
+  irqstate_t flags;
   bool fatal = true;
-  int flags;
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
   if (rtcb->group && !(rtcb->flags & TCB_FLAG_TTYPE_KERNEL))