diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 5cd1de02c7..2c1f04ff1a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -167,7 +167,9 @@ all::
 # Define NO_POLL if you do not have or don't want to use poll().
 # This also implies NO_SYS_POLL_H.
 #
-# Define NO_SYS_PARAM_H if you don't have sys/param.h.
+# Define NEEDS_SYS_PARAM_H if you need to include sys/param.h to compile,
+# *PLEASE* REPORT to git@vger.kernel.org if your platform needs this;
+# we want to know more about the issue.
 #
 # Define NO_PTHREADS if you do not have or do not want to use Pthreads.
 #
@@ -1747,8 +1749,8 @@ endif
 ifdef NO_SYS_POLL_H
 	BASIC_CFLAGS += -DNO_SYS_POLL_H
 endif
-ifdef NO_SYS_PARAM_H
-	BASIC_CFLAGS += -DNO_SYS_PARAM_H
+ifdef NEEDS_SYS_PARAM_H
+	BASIC_CFLAGS += -DNEEDS_SYS_PARAM_H
 endif
 ifdef NO_INTTYPES_H
 	BASIC_CFLAGS += -DNO_INTTYPES_H
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index e3ab6fe282..8fbb533d95 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -699,12 +699,6 @@ AC_CHECK_HEADER([sys/poll.h],
 [NO_SYS_POLL_H=UnfortunatelyYes])
 GIT_CONF_SUBST([NO_SYS_POLL_H])
 #
-# Define NO_SYS_PARAM_H if you don't have sys/param.h
-AC_CHECK_HEADER([sys/param.h],
-[NO_SYS_PARAM_H=],
-[NO_SYS_PARAM_H=UnfortunatelyYes])
-GIT_CONF_SUBST([NO_SYS_PARAM_H])
-#
 # Define NO_INTTYPES_H if you don't have inttypes.h
 AC_CHECK_HEADER([inttypes.h],
 [NO_INTTYPES_H=],
diff --git a/git-compat-util.h b/git-compat-util.h
index d7359ef87f..a88147b2dd 100644
--- a/git-compat-util.h
+++ b/git-compat-util.h
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@
 #endif
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <limits.h>
-#ifndef NO_SYS_PARAM_H
+#ifdef NEEDS_SYS_PARAM_H
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #endif
 #include <sys/types.h>