diff --git a/kernel/kcov.c b/kernel/kcov.c
index 28a6be6e64fd..187ba1b80bda 100644
--- a/kernel/kcov.c
+++ b/kernel/kcov.c
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ static void kcov_remote_area_put(struct kcov_remote_area *area,
  * Unlike in_serving_softirq(), this function returns false when called during
  * a hardirq or an NMI that happened in the softirq context.
  */
-static inline bool in_softirq_really(void)
+static __always_inline bool in_softirq_really(void)
 {
 	return in_serving_softirq() && !in_hardirq() && !in_nmi();
 }