diff --git a/usr.sbin/wpa/wpa_cli/Makefile b/usr.sbin/wpa/wpa_cli/Makefile
index ae16a72a0b96..123485a91fc5 100644
--- a/usr.sbin/wpa/wpa_cli/Makefile
+++ b/usr.sbin/wpa/wpa_cli/Makefile
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ MAN=	wpa_cli.8
 
 CFLAGS+= -DCONFIG_CTRL_IFACE
 CFLAGS+= -DCONFIG_CTRL_IFACE_UNIX
+# enable use of d_type to identify unix domain sockets
+CFLAGS+= -D_DIRENT_HAVE_D_TYPE
 
 #CFLAGS+= -DCONFIG_READLINE
 #LDADD+= -ledit -ltermcap