diff --git a/py/qstrdefs.h b/py/qstrdefs.h
index 7efa85b8a5..bf575e25d1 100644
--- a/py/qstrdefs.h
+++ b/py/qstrdefs.h
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ Q(set)
 Q(sorted)
 Q(sum)
 Q(str)
+Q(sys)
 Q(tuple)
 Q(type)
 Q(zip)
diff --git a/py/runtime.c b/py/runtime.c
index 0f27273273..c84a28e4cb 100644
--- a/py/runtime.c
+++ b/py/runtime.c
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ void rt_init(void) {
 
 #if MICROPY_CPYTHON_COMPAT
     // Precreate sys module, so "import sys" didn't throw exceptions.
-    mp_obj_new_module(QSTR_FROM_STR_STATIC("sys"));
+    mp_obj_new_module(MP_QSTR_sys);
 #endif
 
     mp_module_micropython_init();
diff --git a/unix/qstrdefsport.h b/unix/qstrdefsport.h
index a470e5dab0..598f23bef2 100644
--- a/unix/qstrdefsport.h
+++ b/unix/qstrdefsport.h
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 // qstrs specific to this port
 
-Q(sys)
 Q(argv)
 Q(open)
 Q(stdin)
diff --git a/windows/qstrdefsport.h b/windows/qstrdefsport.h
index 8a4c47f0b5..3c69a1cb35 100644
--- a/windows/qstrdefsport.h
+++ b/windows/qstrdefsport.h
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 // qstrs specific to this port
 
-Q(sys)
 Q(argv)
 Q(open)
 Q(stdin)