diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index e6af91d0..6c252298 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@ endif
 
 if LINUX
 include_HEADERS += include/uv-linux.h
+libuv_la_CFLAGS += -D_GNU_SOURCE
 libuv_la_SOURCES += src/unix/linux-core.c \
                     src/unix/linux-inotify.c \
                     src/unix/linux-syscalls.c \
diff --git a/uv.gyp b/uv.gyp
index 45af6a1f..d93f66ad 100644
--- a/uv.gyp
+++ b/uv.gyp
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@
           'cflags': [ '-Wstrict-aliasing' ],
         }],
         [ 'OS=="linux"', {
+          'defines': [ '_GNU_SOURCE' ],
           'sources': [
             'src/unix/linux-core.c',
             'src/unix/linux-inotify.c',