diff --git a/sys/riscv/riscv/machdep.c b/sys/riscv/riscv/machdep.c
index 550d440cddc1..841bfeda891e 100644
--- a/sys/riscv/riscv/machdep.c
+++ b/sys/riscv/riscv/machdep.c
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ cpuset_t all_harts;
 
 extern int *end;
 
+static char static_kenv[PAGE_SIZE];
+
 static void
 cpu_startup(void *dummy)
 {
@@ -836,6 +838,8 @@ parse_metadata(void)
 	kern_envp = MD_FETCH(kmdp, MODINFOMD_ENVP, char *);
 	if (kern_envp != NULL)
 		init_static_kenv(kern_envp, 0);
+	else
+		init_static_kenv(static_kenv, sizeof(static_kenv));
 #ifdef DDB
 	ksym_start = MD_FETCH(kmdp, MODINFOMD_SSYM, uintptr_t);
 	ksym_end = MD_FETCH(kmdp, MODINFOMD_ESYM, uintptr_t);