diff --git a/programs/test/metatest.c b/programs/test/metatest.c
index ce866edec..5e6a15f1d 100644
--- a/programs/test/metatest.c
+++ b/programs/test/metatest.c
@@ -96,12 +96,13 @@ void double_free(const char *name)
 void read_uninitialized_stack(const char *name)
 {
     (void) name;
-    volatile char buf[1];
+    char buf[1];
     if (false_but_the_compiler_does_not_know) {
         buf[0] = '!';
     }
-    if (*buf != 0) {
-        mbedtls_printf("%u\n", (unsigned) *buf);
+    char *volatile p = buf;
+    if (*p != 0) {
+        mbedtls_printf("%u\n", (unsigned) *p);
     }
 }