diff --git a/py/mpstate.h b/py/mpstate.h
index a268e8685b..87d367769e 100644
--- a/py/mpstate.h
+++ b/py/mpstate.h
@@ -184,11 +184,6 @@ typedef struct _mp_state_vm_t {
     mp_obj_dict_t *mp_module_builtins_override_dict;
     #endif
 
-    #if MICROPY_PERSISTENT_CODE_TRACK_RELOC_CODE
-    // An mp_obj_list_t that tracks relocated native code to prevent the GC from reclaiming them.
-    mp_obj_t track_reloc_code_list;
-    #endif
-
     // Include any root pointers registered with MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER().
     #ifndef NO_QSTR
     // Only include root pointer definitions when not doing qstr extraction, because
diff --git a/py/persistentcode.c b/py/persistentcode.c
index fbef0b2c0f..a8e7429550 100644
--- a/py/persistentcode.c
+++ b/py/persistentcode.c
@@ -644,3 +644,8 @@ void mp_raw_code_save_file(mp_compiled_module_t *cm, const char *filename) {
 #endif // MICROPY_PERSISTENT_CODE_SAVE_FILE
 
 #endif // MICROPY_PERSISTENT_CODE_SAVE
+
+#if MICROPY_PERSISTENT_CODE_TRACK_RELOC_CODE
+// An mp_obj_list_t that tracks relocated native code to prevent the GC from reclaiming them.
+MP_REGISTER_ROOT_POINTER(mp_obj_t track_reloc_code_list);
+#endif