diff --git a/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt.c b/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt.c
index e0df96fdfe46c7..e94e0a62ba92d6 100644
--- a/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt.c
+++ b/arch/x86/mm/mem_encrypt.c
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL(sev_enable_key);
 bool sev_enabled __section(.data);
 
 /* Buffer used for early in-place encryption by BSP, no locking needed */
-static char sme_early_buffer[PAGE_SIZE] __aligned(PAGE_SIZE);
+static char sme_early_buffer[PAGE_SIZE] __initdata __aligned(PAGE_SIZE);
 
 /*
  * This routine does not change the underlying encryption setting of the