diff --git a/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c b/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
index e0d8ef79e51..7970e8911e2 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ static LIST_HEAD(thermal_tz_list);
 static LIST_HEAD(thermal_cdev_list);
 static DEFINE_MUTEX(thermal_list_lock);
 
-static unsigned int thermal_event_seqnum;
-
 static int get_idr(struct idr *idr, struct mutex *lock, int *id)
 {
 	int err;
@@ -1318,6 +1316,8 @@ void thermal_zone_device_unregister(struct thermal_zone_device *tz)
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(thermal_zone_device_unregister);
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_NET
+static unsigned int thermal_event_seqnum;
+
 static struct genl_family thermal_event_genl_family = {
 	.id = GENL_ID_GENERATE,
 	.name = THERMAL_GENL_FAMILY_NAME,