diff --git a/arch/xtensa/kernel/head.S b/arch/xtensa/kernel/head.S
index d092c225d5b7..0817f9db836e 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/kernel/head.S
+++ b/arch/xtensa/kernel/head.S
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ _start:	_j	2f
 2:	l32r	a0, 1b
 	jx	a0
 
-	.text
+	.section .init.text, "ax"
 	.align 4
 _startup: