diff --git a/wt-status.h b/wt-status.h
index 02afaa60ee..7d61410b17 100644
--- a/wt-status.h
+++ b/wt-status.h
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ struct wt_status {
 };
 
 int git_status_config(const char *var, const char *value);
-int wt_status_use_color;
-int wt_status_relative_paths;
+extern int wt_status_use_color;
+extern int wt_status_relative_paths;
 void wt_status_prepare(struct wt_status *s);
 void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s);