diff --git a/kerncompat.h b/kerncompat.h
index f6477990..15595500 100644
--- a/kerncompat.h
+++ b/kerncompat.h
@@ -139,8 +139,10 @@ static inline void bugon_trace(const char *assertion, const char *filename,
 #define __bitwise__ __attribute__((bitwise))
 #else
 #define __force
+#ifndef __bitwise__
 #define __bitwise__
 #endif
+#endif
 
 #ifndef __CHECKER__
 /*