diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 91f256508a..a9d5f13f0c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1412,7 +1412,7 @@ ARFLAGS = rcs
 PTHREAD_CFLAGS =
 
 # For the 'sparse' target
-SPARSE_FLAGS ?= -std=gnu99
+SPARSE_FLAGS ?= -std=gnu99 -D__STDC_NO_VLA__
 SP_EXTRA_FLAGS =
 
 # For informing GIT-BUILD-OPTIONS of the SANITIZE=leak,address targets