diff --git a/lib/isc/include/isc/util.h b/lib/isc/include/isc/util.h
index 332dc0c2b9..7b209db582 100644
--- a/lib/isc/include/isc/util.h
+++ b/lib/isc/include/isc/util.h
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
  * Use this in translation units that would otherwise be empty, to
  * suppress compiler warnings.
  */
-#define EMPTY_TRANSLATION_UNIT static void isc__empty(void) { isc__empty(); }
+#define EMPTY_TRANSLATION_UNIT extern int isc__empty;
 
 /*%
  * We use macros instead of calling the routines directly because