"extern int errno" is just a really bad idea. diff -Naur mysql-5.5.8.orig/include/my_sys.h mysql-5.5.8/include/my_sys.h --- mysql-5.5.8.orig/include/my_sys.h 2010-12-03 12:58:24.000000000 -0500 +++ mysql-5.5.8/include/my_sys.h 2010-12-20 21:20:12.622190325 -0500 @@ -197,13 +197,8 @@ #define my_afree(PTR) my_free(PTR) #endif /* HAVE_ALLOCA */ -#ifndef errno /* did we already get it? */ -#ifdef HAVE_ERRNO_AS_DEFINE #include /* errno is a define */ -#else -extern int errno; /* declare errno */ -#endif -#endif /* #ifndef errno */ + extern char *home_dir; /* Home directory for user */ extern const char *my_progname; /* program-name (printed in errors) */ extern char curr_dir[]; /* Current directory for user */