diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 7315507381..3868edd349 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1409,7 +1409,7 @@ 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