diff --git a/contrib/telnet/telnet/main.c b/contrib/telnet/telnet/main.c
index b165f4aee25..30cdb184d38 100644
--- a/contrib/telnet/telnet/main.c
+++ b/contrib/telnet/telnet/main.c
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ char *ipsec_policy_in = NULL;
 char *ipsec_policy_out = NULL;
 #endif
 
+char *line; /* the telnetd side of libtelnet needs this */
+
 int family = AF_UNSPEC;
 
 /*
diff --git a/crypto/telnet/telnet/main.c b/crypto/telnet/telnet/main.c
index b165f4aee25..30cdb184d38 100644
--- a/crypto/telnet/telnet/main.c
+++ b/crypto/telnet/telnet/main.c
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ char *ipsec_policy_in = NULL;
 char *ipsec_policy_out = NULL;
 #endif
 
+char *line; /* the telnetd side of libtelnet needs this */
+
 int family = AF_UNSPEC;
 
 /*