diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-patching.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-patching.sh
index a482d64acc..f062304bd9 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-patching.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/kernel-patching.sh
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@
 function kernel_main_patching_python() {
 	prepare_pip_packages_for_python_tools
 
-	# outer scope variables
-	declare -I kernel_drivers_patch_file kernel_drivers_patch_hash
+	# outer scope variables: kernel_drivers_patch_file kernel_drivers_patch_hash
 
 	declare patch_debug="${SHOW_DEBUG:-${DEBUG_PATCHING:-"no"}}"
 	declare temp_file_for_output
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/patch/drivers-harness.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/patch/drivers-harness.sh
index 078d7bc78a..5818261f54 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/patch/drivers-harness.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/patch/drivers-harness.sh
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ function kernel_drivers_create_patches() {
 function kernel_drivers_prepare_harness() {
 	declare kernel_work_dir="${1}"
 	declare kernel_git_revision="${2}"
-	declare -I target_patch_file # outer scope variable
+	# outer scope variable: target_patch_file
 
 	declare -a drivers=(
 		driver_generic_bring_back_ipx
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/uboot-patching.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/uboot-patching.sh
index b6435e5d82..92f9c36d95 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/uboot-patching.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/uboot-patching.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 function uboot_main_patching_python() {
 	prepare_pip_packages_for_python_tools
 
-	declare -I uboot_work_dir # outer scope variable
+	# outer scope variable: uboot_work_dir
 
 	temp_file_for_output="$(mktemp)" # Get a temporary file for the output.
 	# array with all parameters; will be auto-quoted by bash's @Q modifier below
diff --git a/lib/functions/compilation/uboot.sh b/lib/functions/compilation/uboot.sh
index 8ffde4fa40..7fe83b1ce2 100644
--- a/lib/functions/compilation/uboot.sh
+++ b/lib/functions/compilation/uboot.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ function compile_uboot_target() {
 	local uboot_work_dir=""
 	uboot_work_dir="$(pwd)"
 
-	declare -I uboot_git_revision # use outer scope variable value
+	# outer scope variable: uboot_git_revision
 
 	display_alert "${uboot_prefix} Checking out to clean sources SHA1 ${uboot_git_revision}" "{$BOOTSOURCEDIR} for ${target_make}"
 	git checkout -f -q "${uboot_git_revision}"