diff --git a/spec/ruby/optional/capi/spec_helper.rb b/spec/ruby/optional/capi/spec_helper.rb
index 9bd2d9791c..ec6b909397 100644
--- a/spec/ruby/optional/capi/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/ruby/optional/capi/spec_helper.rb
@@ -29,7 +29,9 @@ def compile_extension(name)
 
   ext = "#{name}_spec"
   lib = "#{object_path}/#{ext}.#{RbConfig::CONFIG['DLEXT']}"
-  ruby_header = "#{RbConfig::CONFIG['rubyhdrdir']}/ruby.h"
+  rubyhdrdir = RbConfig::CONFIG['rubyhdrdir']
+  ruby_header = "#{rubyhdrdir}/ruby.h"
+  abi_header = "#{rubyhdrdir}/ruby/internal/abi.h"
 
   if RbConfig::CONFIG["ENABLE_SHARED"] == "yes"
     libdirname = RbConfig::CONFIG['libdirname'] # defined since 2.1
@@ -45,6 +47,7 @@ def compile_extension(name)
     when mtime <= File.mtime("#{core_ext_dir}/rubyspec.h")
     when mtime <= File.mtime("#{spec_ext_dir}/#{ext}.c")
     when mtime <= File.mtime(ruby_header)
+    when (mtime <= File.mtime(abi_header) rescue nil)
     when libruby && mtime <= File.mtime(libruby)
     else
       return lib # up-to-date