diff --git a/include/kernel.h b/include/kernel.h
index 332dec03409..08db8565218 100644
--- a/include/kernel.h
+++ b/include/kernel.h
@@ -5228,7 +5228,9 @@ struct k_poll_event {
 	.state = K_POLL_STATE_NOT_READY, \
 	.mode = _event_mode, \
 	.unused = 0, \
-	.obj = _event_obj, \
+	{ \
+		.obj = _event_obj, \
+	}, \
 	}
 
 #define K_POLL_EVENT_STATIC_INITIALIZER(_event_type, _event_mode, _event_obj, \
@@ -5239,7 +5241,9 @@ struct k_poll_event {
 	.state = K_POLL_STATE_NOT_READY, \
 	.mode = _event_mode, \
 	.unused = 0, \
-	.obj = _event_obj, \
+	{ \
+		.obj = _event_obj, \
+	}, \
 	}
 
 /**