diff --git a/configure b/configure
index c628ff65bb..d3e8764fb9 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -2477,6 +2477,7 @@ case $target_os in
     os/2*)
         ln_s="cp -f"
         objformat="aout"
+        add_cppflags -D_GNU_SOURCE
         add_ldflags -Zomf -Zbin-files -Zargs-wild -Zmap
         SHFLAGS='$(SUBDIR)$(NAME).def -Zdll -Zomf'
         FFSERVERLDFLAGS=""