diff --git a/sysdep/unix/log.c b/sysdep/unix/log.c
index 98642e9c..58554aa2 100644
--- a/sysdep/unix/log.c
+++ b/sysdep/unix/log.c
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ static pool *log_pool;
 
 static struct rfile *dbg_rf;
 static char *current_syslog_name = NULL; /* NULL -> syslog closed */
+const char *bird_name = NULL;
 
 _Atomic uint max_thread_id = 1;
 _Thread_local uint this_thread_id;
@@ -826,6 +827,7 @@ resolve_fail:
 void
 log_init_debug(char *f)
 {
+  ASSERT_DIE(bird_name);
   clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &dbg_time_start);
 
   if (dbg_rf && dbg_rf != &rf_stderr)
diff --git a/sysdep/unix/main.c b/sysdep/unix/main.c
index 254690b1..ed5569d8 100644
--- a/sysdep/unix/main.c
+++ b/sysdep/unix/main.c
@@ -709,7 +709,6 @@ signal_init(void)
 
 static char *opt_list = "bc:dD:ps:P:u:g:flRh";
 int parse_and_exit;
-char *bird_name;
 static char *use_user;
 static char *use_group;
 static int run_in_foreground = 0;
diff --git a/sysdep/unix/unix.h b/sysdep/unix/unix.h
index 5e2144e4..7832caaa 100644
--- a/sysdep/unix/unix.h
+++ b/sysdep/unix/unix.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ struct config;
 
 /* main.c */
 
-extern char *bird_name;
+extern const char *bird_name;
 extern int parse_and_exit;
 void async_config(void);
 void async_dump(void);
diff --git a/test/birdtest.c b/test/birdtest.c
index 76bae76d..2072ada9 100644
--- a/test/birdtest.c
+++ b/test/birdtest.c
@@ -539,7 +539,6 @@ bt_is_char(byte c)
  */
 
 int parse_and_exit;
-char *bird_name;
 void async_config(void) {}
 void async_dump(void) {}
 void async_shutdown(void) {}