diff --git a/src/mbedtls.c b/src/mbedtls.c
index fe3841e5..e34282d9 100644
--- a/src/mbedtls.c
+++ b/src/mbedtls.c
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@
 
 #ifdef LIBSSH2_MBEDTLS /* compile only if we build with mbedtls */
 
+/*******************************************************************/
+/*
+ * mbedTLS backend: Global context handles
+ */
+
+static mbedtls_entropy_context  _libssh2_mbedtls_entropy;
+static mbedtls_ctr_drbg_context _libssh2_mbedtls_ctr_drbg;
+
 /*******************************************************************/
 /*
  * mbedTLS backend: Generic functions
diff --git a/src/mbedtls.h b/src/mbedtls.h
index 02f95608..6b98f521 100644
--- a/src/mbedtls.h
+++ b/src/mbedtls.h
@@ -79,14 +79,6 @@
 #define _libssh2_ec_key void
 #endif
 
-/*******************************************************************/
-/*
- * mbedTLS backend: Global context handles
- */
-
-mbedtls_entropy_context  _libssh2_mbedtls_entropy;
-mbedtls_ctr_drbg_context _libssh2_mbedtls_ctr_drbg;
-
 /*******************************************************************/
 /*
  * mbedTLS backend: Generic functions