diff --git a/src/util/iohelper.c b/src/util/iohelper.c
index d864bbeaed..618bfb1d3d 100644
--- a/src/util/iohelper.c
+++ b/src/util/iohelper.c
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@
 
 #define VIR_FROM_THIS VIR_FROM_STORAGE
 
+#ifndef O_DIRECT
+# define O_DIRECT 0
+#endif
+
 static int
 runIO(const char *path, int fd, int oflags)
 {
diff --git a/src/util/virfile.c b/src/util/virfile.c
index d0e0062aa7..efa59f2b13 100644
--- a/src/util/virfile.c
+++ b/src/util/virfile.c
@@ -95,6 +95,10 @@
 
 VIR_LOG_INIT("util.file");
 
+#ifndef O_DIRECT
+# define O_DIRECT 0
+#endif
+
 int virFileClose(int *fdptr, virFileCloseFlags flags)
 {
     int saved_errno = 0;