diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index 037215972..eb135c6e4 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@
 *****************************************************************************
 
 *** 1.5.3 ***
+- FIX: Removed C99-style variables declarations (bug 2964418)(backported
+  in 1.4.2).
 - FIX: Fixed missing reschedulation in chEvtSignal() (bug 2961208)(backported
   in 1.4.2).
 - NEW: Enhanced the kernel size report to cover more cases.
diff --git a/test/testbmk.c b/test/testbmk.c
index 9f5f873bf..d25d51d8b 100644
--- a/test/testbmk.c
+++ b/test/testbmk.c
@@ -72,7 +72,9 @@ static msg_t thread1(void *p) {
   return 0;
 }
 
+#ifdef __GNUC__
 __attribute__((noinline))
+#endif
 static unsigned int msg_loop_test(Thread *tp) {
 
   uint32_t n = 0;
@@ -235,9 +237,10 @@ msg_t thread4(void *p) {
 
 static void bmk4_execute(void) {
   Thread *tp;
+  uint32_t n;
 
   tp = threads[0] = chThdCreateStatic(wa[0], WA_SIZE, chThdGetPriority()+1, thread4, NULL);
-  uint32_t n = 0;
+  n = 0;
   test_wait_tick();
   test_start_timer(1000);
   do {
@@ -497,11 +500,12 @@ static char *bmk9_gettest(void) {
 }
 
 static void bmk9_execute(void) {
+  uint32_t n;
   static uint8_t ib[16];
   static InputQueue iq;
 
   chIQInit(&iq, ib, sizeof(ib), NULL);
-  uint32_t n = 0;
+  n = 0;
   test_wait_tick();
   test_start_timer(1000);
   do {