diff --git a/Modules/_struct.c b/Modules/_struct.c
index 04c90e0190c..93b9ec1b3ca 100644
--- a/Modules/_struct.c
+++ b/Modules/_struct.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "structmember.h"
 #include <ctype.h>
 
+static PyTypeObject PyStructType;
 
 /* compatibility macros */
 #if (PY_VERSION_HEX < 0x02050000)