diff --git a/include/linux/compiler.h b/include/linux/compiler.h
index 793c0829e3a3..06f27fd9d760 100644
--- a/include/linux/compiler.h
+++ b/include/linux/compiler.h
@@ -545,10 +545,14 @@ static __always_inline void __write_once_size(volatile void *p, void *res, int s
  * Similar to rcu_dereference(), but for situations where the pointed-to
  * object's lifetime is managed by something other than RCU.  That
  * "something other" might be reference counting or simple immortality.
+ *
+ * The seemingly unused void * variable is to validate @p is indeed a pointer
+ * type. All pointer types silently cast to void *.
  */
 #define lockless_dereference(p) \
 ({ \
 	typeof(p) _________p1 = READ_ONCE(p); \
+	__maybe_unused const void * const _________p2 = _________p1; \
 	smp_read_barrier_depends(); /* Dependency order vs. p above. */ \
 	(_________p1); \
 })