diff --git a/ldpd/ldpe.c b/ldpd/ldpe.c
index c16d92f28b..3a964c0caa 100644
--- a/ldpd/ldpe.c
+++ b/ldpd/ldpe.c
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ static struct quagga_signal_t ldpe_signals[] =
 	},
 };
 
+char *pkt_ptr; /* packet buffer */
+
 /* label distribution protocol engine */
 void
 ldpe(void)
diff --git a/ldpd/ldpe.h b/ldpd/ldpe.h
index ccff1e803d..5b40383db2 100644
--- a/ldpd/ldpe.h
+++ b/ldpd/ldpe.h
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ struct tcp_conn		*tcp_new(int, struct nbr *);
 void			 pending_conn_del(struct pending_conn *);
 struct pending_conn	*pending_conn_find(int, union ldpd_addr *);
 
-char	*pkt_ptr;	/* packet buffer */
+extern char *pkt_ptr; /* packet buffer */
 
 /* pfkey.c */
 #ifdef __OpenBSD__