diff --git a/os/utils.c b/os/utils.c
index afcaae41b..144098b37 100644
--- a/os/utils.c
+++ b/os/utils.c
@@ -1720,7 +1720,7 @@ static struct pid {
     int pid;
 } *pidlist;
 
-static sighandler_t old_alarm = NULL; /* XXX horrible awful hack */
+void (*old_alarm)(int) = NULL; /* XXX horrible awful hack */
 
 pointer
 Popen(char *command, char *type)