diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/test_sysctl_loop1.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/test_sysctl_loop1.c
index 608a06871572d5129d1479458e63e329d215d3ff..d22e438198cf7724faf3013ff45548c904e1fdb9 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/test_sysctl_loop1.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/test_sysctl_loop1.c
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ int sysctl_tcp_mem(struct bpf_sysctl *ctx)
 	unsigned long tcp_mem[TCP_MEM_LOOPS] = {};
 	char value[MAX_VALUE_STR_LEN];
 	unsigned char i, off = 0;
-	int ret;
+	/* a workaround to prevent compiler from generating
+	 * codes verifier cannot handle yet.
+	 */
+	volatile int ret;
 
 	if (ctx->write)
 		return 0;