An embodiment of the invention may include a magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) structure and method of making the structure. The MRAM structure may include a magnetic tunnel junction stack. The MRAM structure may include a magnetic liner located between the magnetic tunnel junction stack and a top contact, where the magnetic liner may be a ferromagnetic material. This may enable the magnetic liner to act as an independent variable to balance many of the magnetic parameters in the MTJ film stack in order to achieve zero magnetic field at the MTJ layer.