diff --git a/examples/rmtchar/CMakeLists.txt b/examples/rmtchar/CMakeLists.txt
index 0d03174f554..a01ebe08083 100644
--- a/examples/rmtchar/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/examples/rmtchar/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ if(CONFIG_EXAMPLES_RMTCHAR)
     MODULE
     ${CONFIG_EXAMPLES_RMTCHAR}
     SRCS
-    rmtchar_common.c
     rmtchar_main.c)
+  target_sources(apps PRIVATE rmtchar_common.c)
   if(CONFIG_EXAMPLES_RMTCHAR_TX)
     target_sources(apps PRIVATE rmtchar_transmitter.c)
   endif()