diff --git a/board/boards.h b/board/boards.h
index 7cf473c..2af4b3e 100644
--- a/board/boards.h
+++ b/board/boards.h
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+extern uint8_t hw_type;
 board_t board;
 
 void board_detect(void) {
diff --git a/board/bootstub.c b/board/bootstub.c
index 20e7a79..f75a939 100644
--- a/board/bootstub.c
+++ b/board/bootstub.c
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 
 #include "flasher.h"
 
+uint8_t hw_type;                 // type of the board detected(0 - base, 3 - knee)
+
 void __initialize_hardware_early(void) {
   early_initialization();
 }
diff --git a/board/defines.h b/board/defines.h
index 4b24b24..bb678bd 100644
--- a/board/defines.h
+++ b/board/defines.h
@@ -172,6 +172,4 @@ typedef struct {
 
 } board_t;
 
-uint8_t hw_type;                 // type of the board detected(0 - base, 3 - knee)
-
 #endif // DEFINES_H
diff --git a/board/flasher.h b/board/flasher.h
index fea6332..43cfa47 100644
--- a/board/flasher.h
+++ b/board/flasher.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ USB_Setup_TypeDef;
 
 uint32_t *prog_ptr = NULL;
 bool unlocked = false;
+extern uint8_t hw_type;
 
 #define CAN_BL_INPUT 0x1
 #define CAN_BL_OUTPUT 0x2
diff --git a/board/main.c b/board/main.c
index 4cc4490..c2ee510 100644
--- a/board/main.c
+++ b/board/main.c
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ int16_t board_temp_deg_c;        // global variable for calibrated temperature i
 volatile int16_t cmdL;                    // global variable for Left Command
 volatile int16_t cmdR;                    // global variable for Right Command
 
+uint8_t hw_type;                 // type of the board detected(0 - base, 3 - knee)
 uint8_t ignition = 0;            // global variable for ignition on SBU2 line
 uint8_t charger_connected = 0;   // status of the charger port
 uint8_t fault_status = 0;        // fault status of the whole system