diff --git a/ext/dl/handle.c b/ext/dl/handle.c
index 24269dfd78..b727f46763 100644
--- a/ext/dl/handle.c
+++ b/ext/dl/handle.c
@@ -129,10 +129,9 @@ rb_dlhandle_sym(VALUE self, VALUE sym)
     struct dl_handle *dlhandle;
     void *handle;
     const char *name;
-    const char *err;
     int i;
-
 #if defined(HAVE_DLERROR)
+    const char *err;
 # define CHECK_DLERROR if( err = dlerror() ){ func = 0; }
 #else
 # define CHECK_DLERROR