diff --git a/libexec/talkd/process.c b/libexec/talkd/process.c
index fb09300fc55..d77f8a168bf 100644
--- a/libexec/talkd/process.c
+++ b/libexec/talkd/process.c
@@ -62,11 +62,12 @@ static const char rcsid[] =
 
 #include "extern.h"
 
+extern int debug;
+
 void
 process_request(CTL_MSG *mp, CTL_RESPONSE *rp)
 {
 	CTL_MSG *ptr;
-	extern int debug;
 	char *s;
 
 	rp->vers = TALK_VERSION;