diff --git a/board/qca/common/Makefile b/board/qca/common/Makefile
index 6349717de9..34b5adada3 100644
--- a/board/qca/common/Makefile
+++ b/board/qca/common/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 obj-y := cmd_bootqca.o
 obj-y += fdt_info.o
 obj-y += board_init.o
+ifndef CONFIG_ENV_IS_NOWHERE
 obj-y += env.o
+endif
 obj-y += fdt_fixup.o
 obj-y += ethaddr.o
diff --git a/common/env_nowhere.c b/common/env_nowhere.c
index bdc1ed5e67..330a1d0f46 100644
--- a/common/env_nowhere.c
+++ b/common/env_nowhere.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 DECLARE_GLOBAL_DATA_PTR;
 
-env_t *env_ptr;
+extern env_t *env_ptr;
 
 void env_relocate_spec(void)
 {