diff --git a/tccgen.c b/tccgen.c
index 1fe5e931..424c4e0b 100644
--- a/tccgen.c
+++ b/tccgen.c
@@ -6955,7 +6955,8 @@ found:
                     has_init = (tok == '=');
                     if (has_init && (type.t & VT_VLA))
                         tcc_error("variable length array cannot be initialized");
-                    if ((type.t & VT_EXTERN) || ((type.t & VT_BTYPE) == VT_FUNC) ||
+                    if (((type.t & VT_EXTERN) && (!has_init || l != VT_CONST)) ||
+			((type.t & VT_BTYPE) == VT_FUNC) ||
                         ((type.t & VT_ARRAY) && (type.t & VT_STATIC) &&
                          !has_init && l == VT_CONST && type.ref->c < 0)) {
                         /* external variable or function */
diff --git a/tests/tcctest.c b/tests/tcctest.c
index b6e4116c..3a4860af 100644
--- a/tests/tcctest.c
+++ b/tests/tcctest.c
@@ -1752,6 +1752,8 @@ arrtype2 sinit22 = {5,6,7};
 int sinit23[2] = { "astring" ? sizeof("astring") : -1,
 		   &sinit23 ? 42 : -1 };
 
+extern int external_inited = 42;
+
 void init_test(void)
 {
     int linit1 = 2;