diff --git a/gst/gst_private.h b/gst/gst_private.h
index fbc592c02c..74e3e87f19 100644
--- a/gst/gst_private.h
+++ b/gst/gst_private.h
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ GST_EXPORT GstDebugCategory *GST_CAT_TYPES; /* FIXME 0.11: remove? */
 /* Categories that should be completely private to
  * libgstreamer should be done like this: */
 #define GST_CAT_POLL _priv_GST_CAT_POLL
-GstDebugCategory *_priv_GST_CAT_POLL;
+extern GstDebugCategory *_priv_GST_CAT_POLL;
 
 #else