diff --git a/Makefile.common b/Makefile.common
index 5c4bd386c7..d964cfa082 100644
--- a/Makefile.common
+++ b/Makefile.common
@@ -669,6 +669,8 @@ ifeq ($(HAVE_SDL), 1)
    LIBS += $(SDL_LIBS)
 endif
 
+# SDL_syswm.h is not C89/C90-compliant.
+ifneq ($(C89_BUILD), 1)
 ifeq ($(HAVE_SDL2), 1)
    OBJ += gfx/drivers/sdl2_gfx.o \
 			 input/drivers/sdl_input.o \
@@ -684,6 +686,7 @@ ifeq ($(HAVE_SDL2), 1)
    LIBS += $(SDL2_LIBS)
    HAVE_SDL = 0
 endif
+endif
 
 ifeq ($(HAVE_OMAP), 1)
    OBJ += gfx/drivers/omap_gfx.o