diff --git a/cc3200/misc/mperror.c b/cc3200/misc/mperror.c
index 46520361f2..cf2a1c8c1e 100644
--- a/cc3200/misc/mperror.c
+++ b/cc3200/misc/mperror.c
@@ -64,7 +64,9 @@
 /******************************************************************************
  DECLARE PRIVATE DATA
  ******************************************************************************/
+#ifndef BOOTLOADER
 STATIC const mp_obj_base_t pyb_heartbeat_obj = {&pyb_heartbeat_type};
+#endif
 
 struct mperror_heart_beat {
     uint32_t off_time;