diff --git a/commands/version.c b/commands/version.c
index 6c683d9..2b3ac05 100644
--- a/commands/version.c
+++ b/commands/version.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 
 static int do_version(struct command *cmdtp, int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-	extern char version_string[];
 	printf ("\n%s\n", version_string);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/common/console.c b/common/console.c
index 3a1b451..82786f2 100644
--- a/common/console.c
+++ b/common/console.c
@@ -43,8 +43,6 @@
 #define CONSOLE_INIT_EARLY	1
 #define CONSOLE_INIT_FULL	2
 
-extern char version_string[];
-
 static void display_banner (void)
 {
 	printf (RELOC("\n\n%s\n\n"), RELOC_VAR(version_string));
diff --git a/include/common.h b/include/common.h
index 0cf51b3..394542f 100644
--- a/include/common.h
+++ b/include/common.h
@@ -218,4 +218,6 @@
 
 int memory_display(char *addr, ulong offs, ulong nbytes, int size);
 
+extern const char version_string[];
+
 #endif	/* __COMMON_H_ */