diff --git a/git-annex.cabal b/git-annex.cabal
index a9af63ee7c..79e49bd3b2 100644
--- a/git-annex.cabal
+++ b/git-annex.cabal
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ Executable git-annex
       if (! os(windows) && ! os(solaris) && ! os(linux))
         CPP-Options: -DWITH_KQUEUE
         C-Sources: Utility/libkqueue.c
+        Includes: sys/event.h
 
   if os(linux) && flag(Dbus)
     Build-Depends: dbus (>= 0.10.3)