diff --git a/desmume/src/cli/main.c b/desmume/src/cli/main.c
index c2dea0902..b63baea2a 100644
--- a/desmume/src/cli/main.c
+++ b/desmume/src/cli/main.c
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 #include "../debug.h"
 #include "../sndsdl.h"
 
-BOOL execute = FALSE;
+volatile BOOL execute = FALSE;
 
 SDL_Surface * surface;
 
diff --git a/desmume/src/gtk/desmume.c b/desmume/src/gtk/desmume.c
index ec43b97bc..4d22fe66a 100644
--- a/desmume/src/gtk/desmume.c
+++ b/desmume/src/gtk/desmume.c
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 
 #include "desmume.h"
 
-BOOL execute = FALSE;
+volatile BOOL execute = FALSE;
 BOOL click = FALSE;
 BOOL fini = FALSE;
 unsigned long glock = 0;