diff --git a/libguile/gc_os_dep.c b/libguile/gc_os_dep.c
index 0e387f029..8fb3ab0d7 100644
--- a/libguile/gc_os_dep.c
+++ b/libguile/gc_os_dep.c
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ typedef int GC_bool;
 #    define NETBSD
 #    define mach_type_known
 # endif
+# if defined(__NetBSD__) && defined(__sparc__)
+#    define SPARC
+#    define NETBSD
+#    define mach_type_known
+# endif
 # if defined(vax)
 #    define VAX
 #    ifdef ultrix