diff --git a/src/util/virnetlink.h b/src/util/virnetlink.h
index 136b42b995..1e1e616b41 100644
--- a/src/util/virnetlink.h
+++ b/src/util/virnetlink.h
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@
 #   undef inline
 #  endif
 
+typedef struct nl_msg virNetlinkMsg;
+VIR_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_FUNC(virNetlinkMsg, nlmsg_free)
+
 # else
 
 struct nl_msg;
@@ -45,8 +48,6 @@ struct nlmsghdr;
 
 # endif /* __linux__ */
 
-typedef struct nl_msg virNetlinkMsg;
-
 int virNetlinkStartup(void);
 void virNetlinkShutdown(void);
 
@@ -126,6 +127,4 @@ int virNetlinkEventAddClient(virNetlinkEventHandleCallback handleCB,
 int virNetlinkEventRemoveClient(int watch, const virMacAddr *macaddr,
                                 unsigned int protocol);
 
-VIR_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_FUNC(virNetlinkMsg, nlmsg_free)
-
 #endif /* __VIR_NETLINK_H__ */