diff --git a/arch/arm/kernel/head-common.S b/arch/arm/kernel/head-common.S
index a7810be07da1..4a3982812a40 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kernel/head-common.S
+++ b/arch/arm/kernel/head-common.S
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ ENDPROC(__vet_atags)
  * The following fragment of code is executed with the MMU on in MMU mode,
  * and uses absolute addresses; this is not position independent.
  *
- *  r0  = cp#15 control register
+ *  r0  = cp#15 control register (exc_ret for M-class)
  *  r1  = machine ID
  *  r2  = atags/dtb pointer
  *  r9  = processor ID
@@ -137,7 +137,8 @@ __mmap_switched_data:
 #ifdef CONFIG_CPU_CP15
 	.long	cr_alignment			@ r3
 #else
-	.long	0				@ r3
+M_CLASS(.long	exc_ret)			@ r3
+AR_CLASS(.long	0)				@ r3
 #endif
 	.size	__mmap_switched_data, . - __mmap_switched_data
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/kernel/head-nommu.S b/arch/arm/kernel/head-nommu.S
index afa350f44dea..0fc814bbc34b 100644
--- a/arch/arm/kernel/head-nommu.S
+++ b/arch/arm/kernel/head-nommu.S
@@ -201,6 +201,8 @@ M_CLASS(streq	r3, [r12, #PMSAv8_MAIR1])
 	bic	r0, r0, #V7M_SCB_CCR_IC
 #endif
 	str	r0, [r12, V7M_SCB_CCR]
+	/* Pass exc_ret to __mmap_switched */
+	mov	r0, r10
 #endif /* CONFIG_CPU_CP15 elif CONFIG_CPU_V7M */
 	ret	lr
 ENDPROC(__after_proc_init)
diff --git a/arch/arm/mm/proc-v7m.S b/arch/arm/mm/proc-v7m.S
index 1448f144e7fb..efebf4120a0c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mm/proc-v7m.S
+++ b/arch/arm/mm/proc-v7m.S
@@ -136,9 +136,8 @@ __v7m_setup_cont:
 	cpsie	i
 	svc	#0
 1:	cpsid	i
-	ldr	r0, =exc_ret
-	orr	lr, lr, #EXC_RET_THREADMODE_PROCESSSTACK
-	str	lr, [r0]
+	/* Calculate exc_ret */
+	orr	r10, lr, #EXC_RET_THREADMODE_PROCESSSTACK
 	ldmia	sp, {r0-r3, r12}
 	str	r5, [r12, #11 * 4]	@ restore the original SVC vector entry
 	mov	lr, r6			@ restore LR