diff --git a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
index e98e792ab045..634b2fea9c4d 100644
--- a/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
+++ b/drivers/scsi/lpfc/lpfc_sli.c
@@ -11578,7 +11578,8 @@ lpfc_sli4_post_scsi_sgl_block(struct lpfc_hba *phba, struct list_head *sblist,
 static int
 lpfc_fc_frame_check(struct lpfc_hba *phba, struct fc_frame_header *fc_hdr)
 {
-	char *rctl_names[] = FC_RCTL_NAMES_INIT;
+	/*  make rctl_names static to save stack space */
+	static char *rctl_names[] = FC_RCTL_NAMES_INIT;
 	char *type_names[] = FC_TYPE_NAMES_INIT;
 	struct fc_vft_header *fc_vft_hdr;