diff --git a/load.c b/load.c
index cf7011b4d6..9d95c95fff 100644
--- a/load.c
+++ b/load.c
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ rb_load_internal(VALUE fname, int wrap)
     volatile VALUE self = th->top_self;
     volatile int loaded = FALSE;
     volatile int mild_compile_error;
-#ifndef __GNUC__
+#if !defined __GNUC__ || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ == 4)
     rb_thread_t *volatile th0 = th;
 #endif
 
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ rb_load_internal(VALUE fname, int wrap)
     }
     POP_TAG();
 
-#ifndef __GNUC__
+#if !defined __GNUC__ || (__GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ == 4)
     th = th0;
     fname = RB_GC_GUARD(fname);
 #endif