diff --git a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_assert.c b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_assert.c
index 05fbbbb0318..27788451daf 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_assert.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_assert.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(uint32_t sp, uint32_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~0x1f; stack < stack_base; stack += 32)
     {
       uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t *)stack;
-      alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
              stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
              ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
     }
@@ -126,12 +126,12 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
       for (regs = REG_R0; regs <= REG_R15; regs += 8)
         {
           uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t *)&CURRENT_REGS[regs];
-          alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+          _alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
                  regs, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
                  ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
         }
 
-      alert("CPSR: %08x\n", CURRENT_REGS[REG_CPSR]);
+      _alert("CPSR: %08x\n", CURRENT_REGS[REG_CPSR]);
     }
 }
 #else
@@ -200,12 +200,12 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
 #endif
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
@@ -223,24 +223,24 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
        */
 
       sp = g_intstackbase;
-      alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
     }
 
   /* Show user stack info */
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
 #else
-  alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 #endif
 
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
 #if !defined(CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK) || CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK < 4
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
 #endif
     }
   else
@@ -318,10 +318,10 @@ void up_assert(const uint8_t *filename, int lineno)
   board_autoled_on(LED_ASSERTION);
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_dataabort.c b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_dataabort.c
index 621a42d328a..926352fac4e 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_dataabort.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_dataabort.c
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ void up_dataabort(uint32_t *regs, uint32_t far, uint32_t fsr)
 
 segfault:
 #endif
-  alert("Data abort. PC: %08x FAR: %08x FSR: %08x\n", regs[REG_PC], far, fsr);
+  _alert("Data abort. PC: %08x FAR: %08x FSR: %08x\n", regs[REG_PC], far, fsr);
   PANIC();
 }
 
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ void up_dataabort(uint32_t *regs)
 
   /* Crash -- possibly showing diagnost debug information. */
 
-  alert("Data abort. PC: %08x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
+  _alert("Data abort. PC: %08x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
   PANIC();
 }
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_prefetchabort.c b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_prefetchabort.c
index 5d9d9561dcf..070c1ce5d2e 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_prefetchabort.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_prefetchabort.c
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ void up_prefetchabort(uint32_t *regs)
   else
 #endif
     {
-      alert("Prefetch abort. PC: %08x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
+      _alert("Prefetch abort. PC: %08x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
       PANIC();
     }
 }
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_syscall.c b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_syscall.c
index f7ee6f1312c..c52b0369519 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_syscall.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_syscall.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
 
 void up_syscall(uint32_t *regs)
 {
-  alert("Syscall from 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
+  _alert("Syscall from 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
   CURRENT_REGS = regs;
   PANIC();
 }
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_undefinedinsn.c b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_undefinedinsn.c
index 22a895b8165..364b072acde 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/arm/up_undefinedinsn.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/arm/up_undefinedinsn.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 
 void up_undefinedinsn(uint32_t *regs)
 {
-  alert("Undefined instruction at 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
+  _alert("Undefined instruction at 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
   CURRENT_REGS = regs;
   PANIC();
 }
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv6-m/up_assert.c b/arch/arm/src/armv6-m/up_assert.c
index ef1757126ad..93ff4a9f6fb 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv6-m/up_assert.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv6-m/up_assert.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(uint32_t sp, uint32_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~0x1f; stack < stack_base; stack += 32)
     {
       uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t *)stack;
-      alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
              stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
              ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
     }
@@ -117,11 +117,11 @@ static void up_taskdump(FAR struct tcb_s *tcb, FAR void *arg)
   /* Dump interesting properties of this task */
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("%s: PID=%d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
+  _alert("%s: PID=%d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
         tcb->name, tcb->pid, (unsigned long)up_check_tcbstack(tcb),
         (unsigned long)tcb->adj_stack_size);
 #else
-  alert("PID: %d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
+  _alert("PID: %d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
         tcb->pid, (unsigned long)up_check_tcbstack(tcb),
         (unsigned long)tcb->adj_stack_size);
 #endif
@@ -156,22 +156,22 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
     {
       /* Yes.. dump the interrupt registers */
 
-      alert("R0: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("R0: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R0],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R1],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R2],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R3],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R4],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R5],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R6],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R7]);
-      alert("R8: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("R8: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R8],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R9],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R10], CURRENT_REGS[REG_R11],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R12], CURRENT_REGS[REG_R13],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R14], CURRENT_REGS[REG_R15]);
 #ifdef CONFIG_BUILD_PROTECTED
-      alert("xPSR: %08x PRIMASK: %08x EXEC_RETURN: %08x\n",
+      _alert("xPSR: %08x PRIMASK: %08x EXEC_RETURN: %08x\n",
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_XPSR], CURRENT_REGS[REG_PRIMASK],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_EXC_RETURN]);
 #else
-      alert("xPSR: %08x PRIMASK: %08x\n",
+      _alert("xPSR: %08x PRIMASK: %08x\n",
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_XPSR], CURRENT_REGS[REG_PRIMASK]);
 #endif
     }
@@ -242,12 +242,12 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
 #endif
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
@@ -269,14 +269,14 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (CURRENT_REGS)
     {
       sp = CURRENT_REGS[REG_R13];
-      alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
     }
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -289,11 +289,11 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
     }
 
 #else
-  alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
     }
   else
     {
@@ -373,10 +373,10 @@ void up_assert(const uint8_t *filename, int lineno)
   board_autoled_on(LED_ASSERTION);
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_assert.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_assert.c
index d79200e0f5c..bdeffa763cf 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_assert.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_assert.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(uint32_t sp, uint32_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~0x1f; stack < stack_base; stack += 32)
     {
       uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t *)stack;
-      alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
              stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
              ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
     }
@@ -116,11 +116,11 @@ static void up_taskdump(FAR struct tcb_s *tcb, FAR void *arg)
   /* Dump interesting properties of this task */
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("%s: PID=%d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
+  _alert("%s: PID=%d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
         tcb->name, tcb->pid, (unsigned long)up_check_tcbstack(tcb),
         (unsigned long)tcb->adj_stack_size);
 #else
-  alert("PID: %d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
+  _alert("PID: %d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
         tcb->pid, (unsigned long)up_check_tcbstack(tcb),
         (unsigned long)tcb->adj_stack_size);
 #endif
@@ -160,12 +160,12 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
       for (regs = REG_R0; regs <= REG_R15; regs += 8)
         {
           uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t *)&CURRENT_REGS[regs];
-          alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+          _alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
                  regs, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
                  ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
         }
 
-      alert("CPSR: %08x\n", CURRENT_REGS[REG_CPSR]);
+      _alert("CPSR: %08x\n", CURRENT_REGS[REG_CPSR]);
     }
 }
 #else
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
       ustacksize = (uint32_t)rtcb->adj_stack_size;
     }
 
-  alert("Current sp: %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("Current sp: %08x\n", sp);
 
 #if CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK > 3
   /* Get the limits on the interrupt stack memory */
@@ -239,21 +239,21 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("Interrupt stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("Interrupt stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
 #endif
 #endif
 
   /* Show user stack info */
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_ARCH_KERNEL_STACK
@@ -263,9 +263,9 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
     {
       kstackbase = (uint32_t)rtcb->xcp.kstack + CONFIG_ARCH_KERNEL_STACKSIZE - 4;
 
-      alert("Kernel stack:\n");
-      alert("  base: %08x\n", kstackbase);
-      alert("  size: %08x\n", CONFIG_ARCH_KERNEL_STACKSIZE);
+      _alert("Kernel stack:\n");
+      _alert("  base: %08x\n", kstackbase);
+      _alert("  size: %08x\n", CONFIG_ARCH_KERNEL_STACKSIZE);
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
     {
       /* Yes.. dump the interrupt stack */
 
-      alert("Interrupt Stack\n", sp);
+      _alert("Interrupt Stack\n", sp);
       up_stackdump(sp, istackbase);
 
       /* Extract the user stack pointer which should lie
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
        */
 
       sp = g_intstackbase;
-      alert("User sp: %08x\n", sp);
+      _alert("User sp: %08x\n", sp);
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   if (sp > ustackbase - ustacksize && sp < ustackbase)
     {
-      alert("User Stack\n", sp);
+      _alert("User Stack\n", sp);
       up_stackdump(sp, ustackbase);
     }
 
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   if (sp >= (uint32_t)rtcb->xcp.kstack && sp < kstackbase)
     {
-      alert("Kernel Stack\n", sp);
+      _alert("Kernel Stack\n", sp);
       up_stackdump(sp, kstackbase);
     }
 #endif
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 #ifdef CONFIG_SMP
   /* Show the CPU number */
 
-  alert("CPU%d:\n", up_cpu_index());
+  _alert("CPU%d:\n", up_cpu_index());
 #endif
 
   /* Then dump the CPU registers (if available) */
@@ -378,10 +378,10 @@ void up_assert(const uint8_t *filename, int lineno)
   board_autoled_on(LED_ASSERTION);
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
   up_dumpstate();
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_dataabort.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_dataabort.c
index 00a686f8a75..dae3b926e06 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_dataabort.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_dataabort.c
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ uint32_t *arm_dataabort(uint32_t *regs, uint32_t dfar, uint32_t dfsr)
   return regs;
 
 segfault:
-  alert("Data abort. PC: %08x DFAR: %08x DFSR: %08x\n",
+  _alert("Data abort. PC: %08x DFAR: %08x DFSR: %08x\n",
         regs[REG_PC], dfar, dfsr);
   PANIC();
   return regs; /* To keep the compiler happy */
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ uint32_t *arm_dataabort(uint32_t *regs, uint32_t dfar, uint32_t dfsr)
 
   /* Crash -- possibly showing diagnostic debug information. */
 
-  alert("Data abort. PC: %08x DFAR: %08x DFSR: %08x\n",
+  _alert("Data abort. PC: %08x DFAR: %08x DFSR: %08x\n",
         regs[REG_PC], dfar, dfsr);
   PANIC();
   return regs; /* To keep the compiler happy */
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_prefetchabort.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_prefetchabort.c
index a6b73e3ad2a..4e211436425 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_prefetchabort.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_prefetchabort.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ uint32_t *arm_prefetchabort(uint32_t *regs, uint32_t ifar, uint32_t ifsr)
     }
   else
     {
-      alert("Prefetch abort. PC: %08x IFAR: %08x IFSR: %08x\n",
+      _alert("Prefetch abort. PC: %08x IFAR: %08x IFSR: %08x\n",
             regs[REG_PC], ifar, ifsr);
       PANIC();
     }
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ uint32_t *arm_prefetchabort(uint32_t *regs, uint32_t ifar, uint32_t ifsr)
 
   /* Crash -- possibly showing diagnostic debug information. */
 
-  alert("Prefetch abort. PC: %08x IFAR: %08x IFSR: %08x\n",
+  _alert("Prefetch abort. PC: %08x IFAR: %08x IFSR: %08x\n",
         regs[REG_PC], ifar, ifsr);
   PANIC();
   return regs; /* To keep the compiler happy */
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_syscall.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_syscall.c
index 482345c4170..0259acb5c6f 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_syscall.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_syscall.c
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@ uint32_t *arm_syscall(uint32_t *regs)
 
 uint32_t *arm_syscall(uint32_t *regs)
 {
-  alert("SYSCALL from 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
+  _alert("SYSCALL from 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
   CURRENT_REGS = regs;
   PANIC();
 }
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_undefinedinsn.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_undefinedinsn.c
index 70442b49ffa..54dbcc25b8a 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_undefinedinsn.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-a/arm_undefinedinsn.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 
 uint32_t *arm_undefinedinsn(uint32_t *regs)
 {
-  alert("Undefined instruction at 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
+  _alert("Undefined instruction at 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
   CURRENT_REGS = regs;
   PANIC();
   return regs; /* To keep the compiler happy */
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-m/up_assert.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-m/up_assert.c
index fbf29b29e7f..eedfa522d81 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-m/up_assert.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-m/up_assert.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(uint32_t sp, uint32_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~0x1f; stack < stack_base; stack += 32)
     {
       uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t *)stack;
-      alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
              stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
              ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
     }
@@ -116,11 +116,11 @@ static void up_taskdump(FAR struct tcb_s *tcb, FAR void *arg)
   /* Dump interesting properties of this task */
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("%s: PID=%d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
+  _alert("%s: PID=%d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
         tcb->name, tcb->pid, (unsigned long)up_check_tcbstack(tcb),
         (unsigned long)tcb->adj_stack_size);
 #else
-  alert("PID: %d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
+  _alert("PID: %d Stack Used=%lu of %lu\n",
         tcb->pid, (unsigned long)up_check_tcbstack(tcb),
         (unsigned long)tcb->adj_stack_size);
 #endif
@@ -155,29 +155,29 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
     {
       /* Yes.. dump the interrupt registers */
 
-      alert("R0: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("R0: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R0],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R1],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R2],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R3],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R4],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R5],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R6],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R7]);
-      alert("R8: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("R8: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R8],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_R9],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R10], CURRENT_REGS[REG_R11],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R12], CURRENT_REGS[REG_R13],
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_R14], CURRENT_REGS[REG_R15]);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_ARMV7M_USEBASEPRI
-      alert("xPSR: %08x BASEPRI: %08x CONTROL: %08x\n",
+      _alert("xPSR: %08x BASEPRI: %08x CONTROL: %08x\n",
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_XPSR],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_BASEPRI],
             getcontrol());
 #else
-      alert("xPSR: %08x PRIMASK: %08x CONTROL: %08x\n",
+      _alert("xPSR: %08x PRIMASK: %08x CONTROL: %08x\n",
             CURRENT_REGS[REG_XPSR],  CURRENT_REGS[REG_PRIMASK],
             getcontrol());
 #endif
 
 #ifdef REG_EXC_RETURN
-      alert("EXC_RETURN: %08x\n", CURRENT_REGS[REG_EXC_RETURN]);
+      _alert("EXC_RETURN: %08x\n", CURRENT_REGS[REG_EXC_RETURN]);
 #endif
     }
 }
@@ -247,12 +247,12 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
 #endif
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
@@ -274,14 +274,14 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (CURRENT_REGS)
     {
       sp = CURRENT_REGS[REG_R13];
-      alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
     }
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -297,11 +297,11 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show user stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within the allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within the allocated stack\n");
     }
   else
     {
@@ -382,10 +382,10 @@ void up_assert(const uint8_t *filename, int lineno)
   board_autoled_on(LED_ASSERTION);
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_dataabort.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_dataabort.c
index 56cf88d8bc4..52f5d124365 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_dataabort.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_dataabort.c
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ uint32_t *arm_dataabort(uint32_t *regs, uint32_t dfar, uint32_t dfsr)
 
   /* Crash -- possibly showing diagnostic debug information. */
 
-  alert("Data abort. PC: %08x DFAR: %08x DFSR: %08x\n",
+  _alert("Data abort. PC: %08x DFAR: %08x DFSR: %08x\n",
         regs[REG_PC], dfar, dfsr);
   PANIC();
   return regs; /* To keep the compiler happy */
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_prefetchabort.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_prefetchabort.c
index ee9c38be0af..74713f5ad3e 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_prefetchabort.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_prefetchabort.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ uint32_t *arm_prefetchabort(uint32_t *regs, uint32_t ifar, uint32_t ifsr)
 
   /* Crash -- possibly showing diagnostic debug information. */
 
-  alert("Prefetch abort. PC: %08x IFAR: %08x IFSR: %08x\n",
+  _alert("Prefetch abort. PC: %08x IFAR: %08x IFSR: %08x\n",
         regs[REG_PC], ifar, ifsr);
   PANIC();
   return regs; /* To keep the compiler happy */
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_syscall.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_syscall.c
index c8a33f36c38..7d36ccb0d9c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_syscall.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_syscall.c
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ uint32_t *arm_syscall(uint32_t *regs)
 
 uint32_t *arm_syscall(uint32_t *regs)
 {
-  alert("SYSCALL from 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
+  _alert("SYSCALL from 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
   CURRENT_REGS = regs;
   PANIC();
 }
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_undefinedinsn.c b/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_undefinedinsn.c
index d23af753018..733fb06cb2b 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_undefinedinsn.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/armv7-r/arm_undefinedinsn.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 
 uint32_t *arm_undefinedinsn(uint32_t *regs)
 {
-  alert("Undefined instruction at 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
+  _alert("Undefined instruction at 0x%x\n", regs[REG_PC]);
   CURRENT_REGS = regs;
   PANIC();
   return regs; /* To keep the compiler happy */
diff --git a/arch/avr/src/at32uc3/at32uc3_irq.c b/arch/avr/src/at32uc3/at32uc3_irq.c
index c552f462a97..1983e1f34f1 100644
--- a/arch/avr/src/at32uc3/at32uc3_irq.c
+++ b/arch/avr/src/at32uc3/at32uc3_irq.c
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ static int up_getgrp(unsigned int irq)
 static int avr32_xcptn(int irq, FAR void *context)
 {
   (void)up_irq_save();
-  alert("PANIC!!! Exception IRQ: %d\n", irq);
+  _alert("PANIC!!! Exception IRQ: %d\n", irq);
   PANIC();
   return 0;
 }
diff --git a/arch/avr/src/avr/up_dumpstate.c b/arch/avr/src/avr/up_dumpstate.c
index 9e406b6cab2..5a1660b81b4 100644
--- a/arch/avr/src/avr/up_dumpstate.c
+++ b/arch/avr/src/avr/up_dumpstate.c
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(uint16_t sp, uint16_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~3; stack < stack_base; stack += 12)
     {
       uint8_t *ptr = (uint8_t *)stack;
-      alert("%04x: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x"
+      _alert("%04x: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x"
             " %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
              stack,
              ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3], ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7],
@@ -108,28 +108,28 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
 
   if (g_current_regs)
     {
-      alert("R%02d: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
+      _alert("R%02d: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
             0,
             g_current_regs[REG_R0],  g_current_regs[REG_R1],
             g_current_regs[REG_R2],  g_current_regs[REG_R3],
             g_current_regs[REG_R4],  g_current_regs[REG_R5],
             g_current_regs[REG_R6],  g_current_regs[REG_R7]);
 
-      alert("R%02d: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
+      _alert("R%02d: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
             8,
             g_current_regs[REG_R8],  g_current_regs[REG_R9],
             g_current_regs[REG_R10], g_current_regs[REG_R11],
             g_current_regs[REG_R12], g_current_regs[REG_R13],
             g_current_regs[REG_R14], g_current_regs[REG_R15]);
 
-      alert("R%02d: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
+      _alert("R%02d: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
             16,
             g_current_regs[REG_R16], g_current_regs[REG_R17],
             g_current_regs[REG_R18], g_current_regs[REG_R19],
             g_current_regs[REG_R20], g_current_regs[REG_R21],
             g_current_regs[REG_R22], g_current_regs[REG_R23]);
 
-      alert("R%02d: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
+      _alert("R%02d: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
             24,
             g_current_regs[REG_R24], g_current_regs[REG_R25],
             g_current_regs[REG_R26], g_current_regs[REG_R27],
@@ -137,12 +137,12 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
             g_current_regs[REG_R30], g_current_regs[REG_R31]);
 
 #if !defined(REG_PC2)
-      alert("PC:  %02x%02x  SP: %02x%02x SREG: %02x\n",
+      _alert("PC:  %02x%02x  SP: %02x%02x SREG: %02x\n",
             g_current_regs[REG_PC0], g_current_regs[REG_PC1],
             g_current_regs[REG_SPH], g_current_regs[REG_SPL],
             g_current_regs[REG_SREG]);
 #else
-      alert("PC:  %02x%02x%02x  SP: %02x%02x SREG: %02x\n",
+      _alert("PC:  %02x%02x%02x  SP: %02x%02x SREG: %02x\n",
             g_current_regs[REG_PC0], g_current_regs[REG_PC1],
             g_current_regs[REG_PC2], g_current_regs[REG_SPH],
             g_current_regs[REG_SPL], g_current_regs[REG_SREG]);
@@ -190,12 +190,12 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %04x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %04x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %04x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %04x\n", istacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
 #endif
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
@@ -217,14 +217,14 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (g_current_regs)
     {
       sp = g_current_regs[REG_R13];
-      alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
     }
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -236,11 +236,11 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
       up_stackdump(sp, ustackbase);
     }
 #else
-  alert("sp:         %04x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %04x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
     }
   else
     {
diff --git a/arch/avr/src/avr32/up_dumpstate.c b/arch/avr/src/avr32/up_dumpstate.c
index 16a5406aa42..c15b3314405 100644
--- a/arch/avr/src/avr32/up_dumpstate.c
+++ b/arch/avr/src/avr32/up_dumpstate.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(uint32_t sp, uint32_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~0x1f; stack < stack_base; stack += 32)
     {
       uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t *)stack;
-      alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
              stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
              ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
     }
@@ -102,21 +102,21 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
 
   if (g_current_regs)
     {
-      alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
             0,
             g_current_regs[REG_R0], g_current_regs[REG_R1],
             g_current_regs[REG_R2], g_current_regs[REG_R3],
             g_current_regs[REG_R4], g_current_regs[REG_R5],
             g_current_regs[REG_R6], g_current_regs[REG_R7]);
 
-      alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
             8,
             g_current_regs[REG_R8],  g_current_regs[REG_R9],
             g_current_regs[REG_R10], g_current_regs[REG_R11],
             g_current_regs[REG_R12], g_current_regs[REG_R13],
             g_current_regs[REG_R14], g_current_regs[REG_R15]);
 
-      alert("SR: %08x\n", g_current_regs[REG_SR]);
+      _alert("SR: %08x\n", g_current_regs[REG_SR]);
     }
 }
 
@@ -156,12 +156,12 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_intstack());
 #endif
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
@@ -183,14 +183,14 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (g_current_regs)
     {
       sp = g_current_regs[REG_R13];
-      alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
     }
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("  used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -202,11 +202,11 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
       up_stackdump(sp, ustackbase);
     }
 #else
-  alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #ifdef CONFIG_STACK_COLORATION
-  alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
+  _alert("stack used: %08x\n", up_check_tcbstack(rtcb));
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
     }
   else
     {
diff --git a/arch/avr/src/common/up_assert.c b/arch/avr/src/common/up_assert.c
index dc6411081e4..a93187c5238 100644
--- a/arch/avr/src/common/up_assert.c
+++ b/arch/avr/src/common/up_assert.c
@@ -138,10 +138,10 @@ void up_assert(const uint8_t *filename, int lineno)
   board_autoled_on(LED_ASSERTION);
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/hc/src/m9s12/m9s12_assert.c b/arch/hc/src/m9s12/m9s12_assert.c
index 1074adfb800..2f859314f1d 100644
--- a/arch/hc/src/m9s12/m9s12_assert.c
+++ b/arch/hc/src/m9s12/m9s12_assert.c
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(uint16_t sp, uint16_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp; stack < stack_base; stack += 16)
     {
       uint8_t *ptr = (uint8_t*)stack;
-      alert("%04x: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x"
+      _alert("%04x: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x"
             "   %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
              stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3], ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7],
              ptr[8], ptr[9], ptr[10], ptr[11], ptr[12], ptr[13], ptr[14], ptr[15]);
@@ -101,11 +101,11 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
 
   if (g_current_regs)
     {
-      alert("A:%02x B:%02x X:%02x%02x Y:%02x%02x PC:%02x%02x CCR:%02x\n",
+      _alert("A:%02x B:%02x X:%02x%02x Y:%02x%02x PC:%02x%02x CCR:%02x\n",
              g_current_regs[REG_A], g_current_regs[REG_B], g_current_regs[REG_XH],
              g_current_regs[REG_XL], g_current_regs[REG_YH], g_current_regs[REG_YL],
              g_current_regs[REG_PCH], g_current_regs[REG_PCL], g_current_regs[REG_CCR]);
-      alert("SP:%02x%02x FRAME:%02x%02x TMP:%02x%02x Z:%02x%02x XY:%02x\n",
+      _alert("SP:%02x%02x FRAME:%02x%02x TMP:%02x%02x Z:%02x%02x XY:%02x\n",
              g_current_regs[REG_SPH], g_current_regs[REG_SPL],
              g_current_regs[REG_FRAMEH], g_current_regs[REG_FRAMEL],
              g_current_regs[REG_TMPL], g_current_regs[REG_TMPH], g_current_regs[REG_ZL],
@@ -114,16 +114,16 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
 #if CONFIG_HCS12_MSOFTREGS > 2
 #  error "Need to save more registers"
 #elif CONFIG_HCS12_MSOFTREGS == 2
-      alert("SOFTREGS: %02x%02x :%02x%02x\n",
+      _alert("SOFTREGS: %02x%02x :%02x%02x\n",
             g_current_regs[REG_SOFTREG1], g_current_regs[REG_SOFTREG1+1],
             g_current_regs[REG_SOFTREG2], g_current_regs[REG_SOFTREG2+1]);
 #elif CONFIG_HCS12_MSOFTREGS == 1
-      alert("SOFTREGS: %02x%02x\n", g_current_regs[REG_SOFTREG1],
+      _alert("SOFTREGS: %02x%02x\n", g_current_regs[REG_SOFTREG1],
             g_current_regs[REG_SOFTREG1+1]);
 #endif
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_HCS12_NONBANKED
-      alert("PPAGE: %02x\n", g_current_regs[REG_PPAGE],);
+      _alert("PPAGE: %02x\n", g_current_regs[REG_PPAGE],);
 #endif
     }
 }
@@ -193,10 +193,10 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %04x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %04x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %04x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %04x\n", istacksize);
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
    * stack?
@@ -213,18 +213,18 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
        */
 
       sp = g_intstackbase;
-      alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
     }
 
   /* Show user stack info */
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
 #else
-  alert("sp:         %04x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %04x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
 #if !defined(CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK) || CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK < 4
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
 #endif
     }
   else
@@ -301,10 +301,10 @@ void up_assert(const uint8_t *filename, int lineno)
   board_autoled_on(LED_ASSERTION);
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/mips/src/mips32/up_assert.c b/arch/mips/src/mips32/up_assert.c
index 1f4ab15d6be..119844eb997 100644
--- a/arch/mips/src/mips32/up_assert.c
+++ b/arch/mips/src/mips32/up_assert.c
@@ -138,10 +138,10 @@ void up_assert(const uint8_t *filename, int lineno)
   board_autoled_on(LED_ASSERTION);
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/mips/src/mips32/up_dumpstate.c b/arch/mips/src/mips32/up_dumpstate.c
index f5a2a8474d2..db9fcda6573 100644
--- a/arch/mips/src/mips32/up_dumpstate.c
+++ b/arch/mips/src/mips32/up_dumpstate.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(uint32_t sp, uint32_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~0x1f; stack < stack_base; stack += 32)
     {
       uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t *)stack;
-      alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
              stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
              ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
     }
@@ -102,27 +102,27 @@ static inline void up_registerdump(void)
 
   if (g_current_regs)
     {
-      alert("MFLO:%08x MFHI:%08x EPC:%08x STATUS:%08x\n",
+      _alert("MFLO:%08x MFHI:%08x EPC:%08x STATUS:%08x\n",
             g_current_regs[REG_MFLO], g_current_regs[REG_MFHI], g_current_regs[REG_EPC],
             g_current_regs[REG_STATUS]);
-      alert("AT:%08x V0:%08x V1:%08x A0:%08x A1:%08x A2:%08x A3:%08x\n",
+      _alert("AT:%08x V0:%08x V1:%08x A0:%08x A1:%08x A2:%08x A3:%08x\n",
             g_current_regs[REG_AT], g_current_regs[REG_V0], g_current_regs[REG_V1],
             g_current_regs[REG_A0], g_current_regs[REG_A1], g_current_regs[REG_A2],
             g_current_regs[REG_A3]);
-      alert("T0:%08x T1:%08x T2:%08x T3:%08x T4:%08x T5:%08x T6:%08x T7:%08x\n",
+      _alert("T0:%08x T1:%08x T2:%08x T3:%08x T4:%08x T5:%08x T6:%08x T7:%08x\n",
             g_current_regs[REG_T0], g_current_regs[REG_T1], g_current_regs[REG_T2],
             g_current_regs[REG_T3], g_current_regs[REG_T4], g_current_regs[REG_T5],
             g_current_regs[REG_T6], g_current_regs[REG_T7]);
-      alert("S0:%08x S1:%08x S2:%08x S3:%08x S4:%08x S5:%08x S6:%08x S7:%08x\n",
+      _alert("S0:%08x S1:%08x S2:%08x S3:%08x S4:%08x S5:%08x S6:%08x S7:%08x\n",
             g_current_regs[REG_S0], g_current_regs[REG_S1], g_current_regs[REG_S2],
             g_current_regs[REG_S3], g_current_regs[REG_S4], g_current_regs[REG_S5],
             g_current_regs[REG_S6], g_current_regs[REG_S7]);
 #ifdef MIPS32_SAVE_GP
-      alert("T8:%08x T9:%08x GP:%08x SP:%08x FP:%08x RA:%08x\n",
+      _alert("T8:%08x T9:%08x GP:%08x SP:%08x FP:%08x RA:%08x\n",
             g_current_regs[REG_T8], g_current_regs[REG_T9], g_current_regs[REG_GP],
             g_current_regs[REG_SP], g_current_regs[REG_FP], g_current_regs[REG_RA]);
 #else
-      alert("T8:%08x T9:%08x SP:%08x FP:%08x RA:%08x\n",
+      _alert("T8:%08x T9:%08x SP:%08x FP:%08x RA:%08x\n",
             g_current_regs[REG_T8], g_current_regs[REG_T9], g_current_regs[REG_SP],
             g_current_regs[REG_FP], g_current_regs[REG_RA]);
 #endif
@@ -169,10 +169,10 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
    * stack?
@@ -189,18 +189,18 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
        */
 
       sp = g_intstackbase;
-      alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
     }
 
   /* Show user stack info */
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #else
-  alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
 #if !defined(CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK) || CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK < 4
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
 #endif
     }
   else
diff --git a/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-exception.c b/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-exception.c
index 7ff728db319..86d8ddf133e 100644
--- a/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-exception.c
+++ b/arch/mips/src/pic32mx/pic32mx-exception.c
@@ -90,88 +90,88 @@ uint32_t *pic32mx_exception(uint32_t *regs)
   switch (cause & CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_MASK)
     {
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_INT:      /* Interrupt */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Interrupt"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Interrupt"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_TLBL:     /* TLB exception (load or instruction fetch) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: TLB exception (load or instruction fetch)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: TLB exception (load or instruction fetch)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC:%08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_TLBS:     /* TLB exception (store) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: TLB exception (store)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: TLB exception (store)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_ADEL:     /* Address error exception (load or instruction fetch) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Address error exception (load or instruction fetch)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Address error exception (load or instruction fetch)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_ADES:     /* Address error exception (store) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Address error exception (store)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Address error exception (store)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_IBE:      /* Bus error exception (instruction fetch) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Bus error exception (instruction fetch)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Bus error exception (instruction fetch)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_DBE:      /* Bus error exception (data reference: load or store) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Bus error exception (data reference: load or store)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Bus error exception (data reference: load or store)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_SYS:      /* Syscall exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Syscall exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Syscall exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_BP:       /* Breakpoint exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Breakpoint exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Breakpoint exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_RI:       /* Reserved instruction exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Reserved instruction exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Reserved instruction exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_CPU:      /* Coprocessor Unusable exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Coprocessor Unusable exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Coprocessor Unusable exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_OV:       /* Arithmetic Overflow exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Arithmetic Overflow exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Arithmetic Overflow exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_TR:       /* Trap exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Trap exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Trap exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_FPE:      /* Floating point exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Floating point exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Floating point exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_C2E:      /* Precise Coprocessor 2 exceptions */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Precise Coprocessor 2 exceptions"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Precise Coprocessor 2 exceptions"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_MDMX:     /* MDMX Unusable (MIPS64) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: MDMX Unusable (MIPS64)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: MDMX Unusable (MIPS64)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_WATCH:    /* WatchHi/WatchLo address */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: WatchHi/WatchLo address"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: WatchHi/WatchLo address"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_MCHECK:   /* Machine check */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Machine check"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Machine check"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_CACHEERR: /* Cache error */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Cache error"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Cache error"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     default:
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Unknown"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Unknown"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     }
 #else
-  alert("EXCEPTION: CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
+  _alert("EXCEPTION: CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
 #endif
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/mips/src/pic32mz/pic32mz-exception.c b/arch/mips/src/pic32mz/pic32mz-exception.c
index 1397d1063f9..256010e910a 100644
--- a/arch/mips/src/pic32mz/pic32mz-exception.c
+++ b/arch/mips/src/pic32mz/pic32mz-exception.c
@@ -90,88 +90,88 @@ uint32_t *pic32mz_exception(uint32_t *regs)
   switch (cause & CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_MASK)
     {
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_INT:      /* Interrupt */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Interrupt"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Interrupt"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_TLBL:     /* TLB exception (load or instruction fetch) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: TLB exception (load or instruction fetch)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: TLB exception (load or instruction fetch)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC:%08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_TLBS:     /* TLB exception (store) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: TLB exception (store)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: TLB exception (store)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_ADEL:     /* Address error exception (load or instruction fetch) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Address error exception (load or instruction fetch)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Address error exception (load or instruction fetch)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_ADES:     /* Address error exception (store) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Address error exception (store)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Address error exception (store)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_IBE:      /* Bus error exception (instruction fetch) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Bus error exception (instruction fetch)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Bus error exception (instruction fetch)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_DBE:      /* Bus error exception (data reference: load or store) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Bus error exception (data reference: load or store)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Bus error exception (data reference: load or store)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_SYS:      /* Syscall exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Syscall exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Syscall exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_BP:       /* Breakpoint exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Breakpoint exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Breakpoint exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_RI:       /* Reserved instruction exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Reserved instruction exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Reserved instruction exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_CPU:      /* Coprocessor Unusable exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Coprocessor Unusable exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Coprocessor Unusable exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_OV:       /* Arithmetic Overflow exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Arithmetic Overflow exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Arithmetic Overflow exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_TR:       /* Trap exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Trap exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Trap exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_FPE:      /* Floating point exception */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Floating point exception"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Floating point exception"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_C2E:      /* Precise Coprocessor 2 exceptions */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Precise Coprocessor 2 exceptions"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Precise Coprocessor 2 exceptions"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_MDMX:     /* MDMX Unusable (MIPS64) */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: MDMX Unusable (MIPS64)"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: MDMX Unusable (MIPS64)"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_WATCH:    /* WatchHi/WatchLo address */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: WatchHi/WatchLo address"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: WatchHi/WatchLo address"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_MCHECK:   /* Machine check */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Machine check"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Machine check"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     case CP0_CAUSE_EXCCODE_CACHEERR: /* Cache error */
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Cache error"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Cache error"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     default:
-      alert("EXCEPTION: Unknown"
+      _alert("EXCEPTION: Unknown"
             " CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
       break;
     }
 #else
-  alert("EXCEPTION: CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
+  _alert("EXCEPTION: CAUSE: %08x EPC: %08x\n", cause, epc);
 #endif
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/sh/src/common/up_assert.c b/arch/sh/src/common/up_assert.c
index 4919a30363b..95abc9b1903 100644
--- a/arch/sh/src/common/up_assert.c
+++ b/arch/sh/src/common/up_assert.c
@@ -139,10 +139,10 @@ void up_assert(const uint8_t *filename, int lineno)
   board_autoled_on(LED_ASSERTION);
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/sh/src/m16c/m16c_dumpstate.c b/arch/sh/src/m16c/m16c_dumpstate.c
index 6cd4f545d4c..7dc1a74ee43 100644
--- a/arch/sh/src/m16c/m16c_dumpstate.c
+++ b/arch/sh/src/m16c/m16c_dumpstate.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ static void m16c_stackdump(uint16_t sp, uint16_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~7; stack < stack_base; stack += 8)
     {
       uint8_t *ptr = (uint8_t*)stack;
-      alert("%04x: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
+      _alert("%04x: %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x %02x\n",
              stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3], ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
     }
 }
@@ -116,14 +116,14 @@ static inline void m16c_registerdump(void)
     {
       /* Yes.. dump the interrupt registers */
 
-      alert("PC: %02x%02x%02x FLG: %02x00%02x FB: %02x%02x SB: %02x%02x SP: %02x%02x\n",
+      _alert("PC: %02x%02x%02x FLG: %02x00%02x FB: %02x%02x SB: %02x%02x SP: %02x%02x\n",
             ptr[REG_FLGPCHI] & 0xff, ptr[REG_PC], ptr[REG_PC+1],
             ptr[REG_FLGPCHI] >> 8, ptr[REG_FLG],
             ptr[REG_FB], ptr[REG_FB+1],
             ptr[REG_SB], ptr[REG_SB+1],
             ptr[REG_SP], ptr[REG_SP+1]);
 
-      alert("R0: %02x%02x R1: %02x%02x R2: %02x%02x A0: %02x%02x A1: %02x%02x\n",
+      _alert("R0: %02x%02x R1: %02x%02x R2: %02x%02x A0: %02x%02x A1: %02x%02x\n",
             ptr[REG_R0], ptr[REG_R0+1], ptr[REG_R1], ptr[REG_R1+1],
             ptr[REG_R2], ptr[REG_R2+1], ptr[REG_R3], ptr[REG_R3+1],
             ptr[REG_A0], ptr[REG_A0+1], ptr[REG_A1], ptr[REG_A1+1]);
@@ -179,10 +179,10 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %04x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %04x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %04x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %04x\n", istacksize);
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
    * stack?
@@ -197,18 +197,18 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
       /* Extract the user stack pointer from the register area */
 
       sp = m16c_getusersp();
-      alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %04x\n", sp);
     }
 
   /* Show user stack info */
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
 #else
-  alert("sp:         %04x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %04x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %04x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %04x\n", ustacksize);
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
 #if !defined(CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK) || CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK < 4
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
 #endif
     }
   else
diff --git a/arch/sh/src/sh1/sh1_dumpstate.c b/arch/sh/src/sh1/sh1_dumpstate.c
index 487bc854ad5..e9b0e590784 100644
--- a/arch/sh/src/sh1/sh1_dumpstate.c
+++ b/arch/sh/src/sh1/sh1_dumpstate.c
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static void sh1_stackdump(uint32_t sp, uint32_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~0x1f; stack < stack_base; stack += 32)
     {
       uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t*)stack;
-      alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
              stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
              ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
     }
@@ -104,17 +104,17 @@ static inline void sh1_registerdump(void)
     {
       /* Yes.. dump the interrupt registers */
 
-      alert("PC: %08x SR=%08x\n",
+      _alert("PC: %08x SR=%08x\n",
             ptr[REG_PC], ptr[REG_SR]);
 
-      alert("PR: %08x GBR: %08x MACH: %08x MACL: %08x\n",
+      _alert("PR: %08x GBR: %08x MACH: %08x MACL: %08x\n",
             ptr[REG_PR], ptr[REG_GBR], ptr[REG_MACH], ptr[REG_MACL]);
 
-      alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n", 0,
+      _alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n", 0,
             ptr[REG_R0], ptr[REG_R1], ptr[REG_R2], ptr[REG_R3],
             ptr[REG_R4], ptr[REG_R5], ptr[REG_R6], ptr[REG_R7]);
 
-      alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n", 8,
+      _alert("R%d: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n", 8,
             ptr[REG_R8], ptr[REG_R9], ptr[REG_R10], ptr[REG_R11],
             ptr[REG_R12], ptr[REG_R13], ptr[REG_R14], ptr[REG_R15]);
     }
@@ -160,10 +160,10 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
    * stack?
@@ -180,18 +180,18 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
        */
 
       sp = g_intstackbase;
-      alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
     }
 
   /* Show user stack info */
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #else
-  alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
 #if !defined(CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK) || CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK < 4
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
 #endif
     }
   else
diff --git a/arch/x86/src/common/up_assert.c b/arch/x86/src/common/up_assert.c
index 5d450e6fd94..3b6caececce 100644
--- a/arch/x86/src/common/up_assert.c
+++ b/arch/x86/src/common/up_assert.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(uint32_t sp, uint32_t stack_base)
   for (stack = sp & ~0x1f; stack < stack_base; stack += 32)
     {
       uint32_t *ptr = (uint32_t*)stack;
-      alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+      _alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
             stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
             ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
     }
@@ -152,10 +152,10 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
 
   /* Show interrupt stack info */
 
-  alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("IRQ stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
+  _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("IRQ stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", istackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", istacksize);
 
   /* Does the current stack pointer lie within the interrupt
    * stack?
@@ -172,18 +172,18 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
        */
 
       sp = g_intstackbase;
-      alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
+      _alert("sp:     %08x\n", sp);
     }
 
   /* Show user stack info */
 
-  alert("User stack:\n");
-  alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("User stack:\n");
+  _alert("  base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("  size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #else
-  alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
-  alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
-  alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
+  _alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack base: %08x\n", ustackbase);
+  _alert("stack size: %08x\n", ustacksize);
 #endif
 
   /* Dump the user stack if the stack pointer lies within the allocated user
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ static void up_dumpstate(void)
   if (sp > ustackbase || sp <= ustackbase - ustacksize)
     {
 #if !defined(CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK) || CONFIG_ARCH_INTERRUPTSTACK < 4
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
 #endif
     }
   else
@@ -263,10 +263,10 @@ void up_assert(const uint8_t *filename, int lineno)
   board_autoled_on(LED_ASSERTION);
 
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/x86/src/i486/up_regdump.c b/arch/x86/src/i486/up_regdump.c
index b3da1b603e2..d28ec481eda 100644
--- a/arch/x86/src/i486/up_regdump.c
+++ b/arch/x86/src/i486/up_regdump.c
@@ -54,13 +54,13 @@
 
 void up_registerdump(uint32_t *regs)
 {
-  alert(" ds:%08x irq:%08x err:%08x\n",
+  _alert(" ds:%08x irq:%08x err:%08x\n",
         regs[REG_DS], regs[REG_IRQNO], regs[REG_ERRCODE]);
-  alert("edi:%08x esi:%08x ebp:%08x esp:%08x\n",
+  _alert("edi:%08x esi:%08x ebp:%08x esp:%08x\n",
         regs[REG_EDI], regs[REG_ESI], regs[REG_EBP], regs[REG_ESP]);
-  alert("ebx:%08x edx:%08x ecx:%08x eax:%08x\n",
+  _alert("ebx:%08x edx:%08x ecx:%08x eax:%08x\n",
         regs[REG_EBX], regs[REG_EDX], regs[REG_ECX], regs[REG_EAX]);
-  alert("eip:%08x  cs:%08x flg:%08x  sp:%08x ss:%08x\n",
+  _alert("eip:%08x  cs:%08x flg:%08x  sp:%08x ss:%08x\n",
         regs[REG_EIP], regs[REG_CS], regs[REG_EFLAGS], regs[REG_SP],
         regs[REG_SS]);
 }
diff --git a/arch/z16/src/common/up_assert.c b/arch/z16/src/common/up_assert.c
index 1ef880a0416..628c34f1faa 100644
--- a/arch/z16/src/common/up_assert.c
+++ b/arch/z16/src/common/up_assert.c
@@ -143,17 +143,17 @@ void up_assert(void)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_FILENAME
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 #else
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed: task: %s\n", rtcb->name);
+  _alert("Assertion failed: task: %s\n", rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed\n");
+  _alert("Assertion failed\n");
 #endif
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/z16/src/common/up_registerdump.c b/arch/z16/src/common/up_registerdump.c
index f167926a52b..dbee6553dd3 100644
--- a/arch/z16/src/common/up_registerdump.c
+++ b/arch/z16/src/common/up_registerdump.c
@@ -62,14 +62,14 @@ static void up_registerdump(void)
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO
   FAR uint32_t *regs32 = (FAR uint32_t*)g_current_regs;
 
-  alert("R0 :%08x R1 :%08x R2 :%08x R3 :%08x "
+  _alert("R0 :%08x R1 :%08x R2 :%08x R3 :%08x "
         "R4 :%08x R5 :%08x R6 :%08x R7 :%08x\n"
         regs32[REG_R0/2],  regs32[REG_R1/2], regs32[REG_R2/2], regs32[REG_R3/2],
         regs32[REG_R4/2],  regs32[REG_R5/2], regs32[REG_R6/2], regs32[REG_R7/2]);
-  alert("R8 :%08x R9 :%08x R10:%08x R11:%08x R12:%08x R13:%08x\n"
+  _alert("R8 :%08x R9 :%08x R10:%08x R11:%08x R12:%08x R13:%08x\n"
         regs32[REG_R8/2],  regs32[REG_R9/2], regs32[REG_R10/2], regs3[REG_R11/2],
         regs32[REG_R12/2], regs32[REG_R13/2]);
-  alert("FP :%08x SP :%08x FLG:%04x\n"
+  _alert("FP :%08x SP :%08x FLG:%04x\n"
         regs32[REG_R14/2], regs32[REG_R15/2], g_current_regs[REG_FLAGS]);
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/arch/z16/src/common/up_stackdump.c b/arch/z16/src/common/up_stackdump.c
index 35bc6d49795..0abb3a33aea 100644
--- a/arch/z16/src/common/up_stackdump.c
+++ b/arch/z16/src/common/up_stackdump.c
@@ -67,9 +67,9 @@ static void up_stackdump(void)
   chipreg_t stack_base = (chipreg_t)rtcb->adj_stack_ptr;
   chipreg_t stack_size = (chipreg_t)rtcb->adj_stack_size;
 
-  alert("stack_base: %08x\n", stack_base);
-  alert("stack_size: %08x\n", stack_size);
-  alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack_base: %08x\n", stack_base);
+  _alert("stack_size: %08x\n", stack_size);
+  _alert("sp:         %08x\n", sp);
 
   if (sp >= stack_base || sp < stack_base - stack_size)
     {
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(void)
       for (stack = sp & ~0x0f; stack < stack_base; stack += 8*sizeof(chipreg_t))
         {
           chipreg_t *ptr = (chipreg_t*)stack;
-          alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
+          _alert("%08x: %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x %08x\n",
                 stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
                 ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
         }
diff --git a/arch/z80/src/common/up_assert.c b/arch/z80/src/common/up_assert.c
index ea1dd0c5d76..49b72409289 100644
--- a/arch/z80/src/common/up_assert.c
+++ b/arch/z80/src/common/up_assert.c
@@ -142,17 +142,17 @@ void up_assert(void)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_HAVE_FILENAME
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d task: %s\n",
         filename, lineno, rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
+  _alert("Assertion failed at file:%s line: %d\n",
         filename, lineno);
 #endif
 #else
 #if CONFIG_TASK_NAME_SIZE > 0
-  alert("Assertion failed: task: %s\n", rtcb->name);
+  _alert("Assertion failed: task: %s\n", rtcb->name);
 #else
-  alert("Assertion failed\n");
+  _alert("Assertion failed\n");
 #endif
 #endif
 
diff --git a/arch/z80/src/common/up_stackdump.c b/arch/z80/src/common/up_stackdump.c
index 0e4e4ea9c4d..1ad64c66a94 100644
--- a/arch/z80/src/common/up_stackdump.c
+++ b/arch/z80/src/common/up_stackdump.c
@@ -68,13 +68,13 @@ static void up_stackdump(void)
   uint16_t stack_base = (uint16_t)rtcb->adj_stack_ptr;
   uint16_t stack_size = (uint16_t)rtcb->adj_stack_size;
 
-  alert("stack_base: %04x\n", stack_base);
-  alert("stack_size: %04x\n", stack_size);
-  alert("sp:         %04x\n", sp);
+  _alert("stack_base: %04x\n", stack_base);
+  _alert("stack_size: %04x\n", stack_size);
+  _alert("sp:         %04x\n", sp);
 
   if (sp >= stack_base || sp < stack_base - stack_size)
     {
-      alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
+      _alert("ERROR: Stack pointer is not within allocated stack\n");
       return;
     }
   else
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static void up_stackdump(void)
       for (stack = sp & ~0x0f; stack < stack_base; stack += 8*sizeof(uint16_t))
         {
           uint16_t *ptr = (uint16_t*)stack;
-          alert("%04x: %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x\n",
+          _alert("%04x: %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x\n",
                 stack, ptr[0], ptr[1], ptr[2], ptr[3],
                 ptr[4], ptr[5], ptr[6], ptr[7]);
         }
diff --git a/arch/z80/src/ez80/ez80_registerdump.c b/arch/z80/src/ez80/ez80_registerdump.c
index 43faf25fee4..7257627a81d 100644
--- a/arch/z80/src/ez80/ez80_registerdump.c
+++ b/arch/z80/src/ez80/ez80_registerdump.c
@@ -70,22 +70,22 @@ static void ez80_registerdump(void)
   if (g_current_regs)
     {
 #ifdef CONFIG_EZ80_Z80MODE
-      alert("AF: %04x  I: %04x\n",
+      _alert("AF: %04x  I: %04x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_AF], g_current_regs[XCPT_I]);
-      alert("BC: %04x DE: %04x HL: %04x\n",
+      _alert("BC: %04x DE: %04x HL: %04x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_BC], g_current_regs[XCPT_DE], g_current_regs[XCPT_HL]);
-      alert("IX: %04x IY: %04x\n",
+      _alert("IX: %04x IY: %04x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_IX], g_current_regs[XCPT_IY]);
-      alert("SP: %04x PC: %04x\n"
+      _alert("SP: %04x PC: %04x\n"
             g_current_regs[XCPT_SP], g_current_regs[XCPT_PC]);
 #else
-      alert("AF: %06x  I: %06x\n",
+      _alert("AF: %06x  I: %06x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_AF], g_current_regs[XCPT_I]);
-      alert("BC: %06x DE: %06x HL: %06x\n",
+      _alert("BC: %06x DE: %06x HL: %06x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_BC], g_current_regs[XCPT_DE], g_current_regs[XCPT_HL]);
-      alert("IX: %06x IY: %06x\n",
+      _alert("IX: %06x IY: %06x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_IX], g_current_regs[XCPT_IY]);
-      alert("SP: %06x PC: %06x\n"
+      _alert("SP: %06x PC: %06x\n"
             g_current_regs[XCPT_SP], g_current_regs[XCPT_PC]);
 #endif
     }
diff --git a/arch/z80/src/z180/z180_registerdump.c b/arch/z80/src/z180/z180_registerdump.c
index 32b351c36d8..00be16de85e 100644
--- a/arch/z80/src/z180/z180_registerdump.c
+++ b/arch/z80/src/z180/z180_registerdump.c
@@ -61,15 +61,15 @@ static void z180_registerdump(void)
 {
   if (g_current_regs)
     {
-      alert("AF: %04x  I: %04x\n",
+      _alert("AF: %04x  I: %04x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_AF], g_current_regs[XCPT_I]);
-      alert("BC: %04x DE: %04x HL: %04x\n",
+      _alert("BC: %04x DE: %04x HL: %04x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_BC], g_current_regs[XCPT_DE], g_current_regs[XCPT_HL]);
-      alert("IX: %04x IY: %04x\n",
+      _alert("IX: %04x IY: %04x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_IX], g_current_regs[XCPT_IY]);
-      alert("SP: %04x PC: %04x\n"
+      _alert("SP: %04x PC: %04x\n"
             g_current_regs[XCPT_SP], g_current_regs[XCPT_PC]);
-      alert("CBAR: %02x BBR: %02x CBR: %02x\n"
+      _alert("CBAR: %02x BBR: %02x CBR: %02x\n"
             inp(Z180_MMU_CBAR), inp(Z180_MMU_BBR), inp(Z180_MMU_CBR));
     }
 }
diff --git a/arch/z80/src/z8/z8_registerdump.c b/arch/z80/src/z8/z8_registerdump.c
index 92ba675b406..0b0cdc6c2e4 100644
--- a/arch/z80/src/z8/z8_registerdump.c
+++ b/arch/z80/src/z8/z8_registerdump.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 
 static inline void z8_dumpregs(FAR chipret_t *regs)
 {
-  alert("REGS: %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x\n",
+  _alert("REGS: %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x %04x\n",
         regs[XCPT_RR0], regs[XCPT_RR2], regs[XCPT_RR4], regs[XCPT_RR6],
         regs[XCPT_RR8], regs[XCPT_RR10], regs[XCPT_RR12], regs[XCPT_RR14]);
 }
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ static inline void z8_dumpregs(FAR chipret_t *regs)
 static inline void z8_dumpstate(chipreg_t sp, chipreg_t pc, uint8_t irqctl,
                                 chipreg_t rpflags)
 {
-  alert("SP: %04x PC: %04x IRQCTL: %02x RP: %02x FLAGS: %02x\n",
+  _alert("SP: %04x PC: %04x IRQCTL: %02x RP: %02x FLAGS: %02x\n",
         sp, pc, irqctl & 0xff, rpflags >> 8, rpflags & 0xff);
 }
 
diff --git a/arch/z80/src/z80/z80_registerdump.c b/arch/z80/src/z80/z80_registerdump.c
index 7f02662a062..9d87ccc9c07 100644
--- a/arch/z80/src/z80/z80_registerdump.c
+++ b/arch/z80/src/z80/z80_registerdump.c
@@ -61,13 +61,13 @@ static void z80_registerdump(void)
 {
   if (g_current_regs)
     {
-      alert("AF: %04x  I: %04x\n",
+      _alert("AF: %04x  I: %04x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_AF], g_current_regs[XCPT_I]);
-      alert("BC: %04x DE: %04x HL: %04x\n",
+      _alert("BC: %04x DE: %04x HL: %04x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_BC], g_current_regs[XCPT_DE], g_current_regs[XCPT_HL]);
-      alert("IX: %04x IY: %04x\n",
+      _alert("IX: %04x IY: %04x\n",
             g_current_regs[XCPT_IX], g_current_regs[XCPT_IY]);
-      alert("SP: %04x PC: %04x\n"
+      _alert("SP: %04x PC: %04x\n"
             g_current_regs[XCPT_SP], g_current_regs[XCPT_PC]);
     }
 }
diff --git a/include/debug.h b/include/debug.h
index 7251839ea6f..9994b3a4217 100644
--- a/include/debug.h
+++ b/include/debug.h
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@
  *    information that you probably not want to suppress during normal debug
  *    general debugging.
  *
- * alert() - is a special, high-priority, unconditional version that is really
+ * _alert() - is a special, high-priority, unconditional version that is really
  *    intended only for crash error reporting.
  */
 
@@ -138,10 +138,10 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_ARCH_LOWPUTC
-#  define alert(format, ...) \
+#  define _alert(format, ...) \
    __arch_lowsyslog(LOG_EMERG, EXTRA_FMT format EXTRA_ARG, ##__VA_ARGS__)
 # else
-#  define alert(x...)
+#  define _alert(x...)
 # endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_ERROR
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@
 /* Variadic macros NOT supported */
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_ARCH_LOWPUTC
-#  define alert       (void)
+#  define _alert      (void)
 # endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_ERROR
@@ -1895,7 +1895,7 @@ void lib_dumpbuffer(FAR const char *msg, FAR const uint8_t *buffer,
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_CPP_HAVE_VARARGS
 #ifndef CONFIG_ARCH_LOWPUTC
-int alert(const char *format, ...);
+int _alert(const char *format, ...);
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_ERROR