diff --git a/drivers/syslog/syslog.h b/drivers/syslog/syslog.h
index c0d5117b0e8..4b9cce9dae4 100644
--- a/drivers/syslog/syslog.h
+++ b/drivers/syslog/syslog.h
@@ -58,15 +58,11 @@ extern "C"
 #define EXTERN extern
 #endif
 
-/* The default SYSLOG channel */
-
-struct syslog_channel_s; /* Forward reference */
-EXTERN const struct syslog_channel_s g_default_channel;
-
 /* This is the current syslog channel in use.  It initially points to
  * g_default_channel.
  */
 
+struct syslog_channel_s; /* Forward reference */
 EXTERN FAR const struct syslog_channel_s *g_syslog_channel;
 
 /****************************************************************************
diff --git a/drivers/syslog/syslog_channel.c b/drivers/syslog/syslog_channel.c
index ebe29901788..381c02b87eb 100644
--- a/drivers/syslog/syslog_channel.c
+++ b/drivers/syslog/syslog_channel.c
@@ -79,28 +79,28 @@ static int syslog_default_flush(void);
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_RAMLOG_SYSLOG)
-const struct syslog_channel_s g_default_channel =
+static const struct syslog_channel_s g_default_channel =
 {
   ramlog_putc,
   ramlog_putc,
   syslog_default_flush
 };
 #elif defined(CONFIG_SYSLOG_RPMSG)
-const struct syslog_channel_s g_default_channel =
+static const struct syslog_channel_s g_default_channel =
 {
   syslog_rpmsg_putc,
   syslog_rpmsg_putc,
   syslog_default_flush
 };
 #elif defined(HAVE_LOWPUTC)
-const struct syslog_channel_s g_default_channel =
+static const struct syslog_channel_s g_default_channel =
 {
   up_putc,
   up_putc,
   syslog_default_flush
 };
 #else
-const struct syslog_channel_s g_default_channel =
+static const struct syslog_channel_s g_default_channel =
 {
   syslog_default_putc,
   syslog_default_putc,