diff --git a/lib/libc/posix1e/cap_get_flag.c b/lib/libc/posix1e/cap_get_flag.c
index 2f0f221dc6f..3694cbb829c 100644
--- a/lib/libc/posix1e/cap_get_flag.c
+++ b/lib/libc/posix1e/cap_get_flag.c
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include "namespace.h"
+#define _CAPABILITY_NEEDMACROS
 #include <sys/capability.h>
+#undef _CAPABILITY_NEEDMACROS
 #include "un-namespace.h"
 #include <sys/errno.h>
 
diff --git a/lib/libc/posix1e/cap_set_flag.c b/lib/libc/posix1e/cap_set_flag.c
index dc4244c6ad1..79e438ff486 100644
--- a/lib/libc/posix1e/cap_set_flag.c
+++ b/lib/libc/posix1e/cap_set_flag.c
@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include "namespace.h"
+/* need capability.h macros */
+#define _CAPABILITY_NEEDMACROS
 #include <sys/capability.h>
+#undef _CAPABILITY_NEEDMACROS
 #include "un-namespace.h"
 #include <sys/errno.h>