diff --git a/src/core-utils/gnc-prefs-p.h b/src/core-utils/gnc-prefs-p.h
index 66a87319a6..12551d64d6 100644
--- a/src/core-utils/gnc-prefs-p.h
+++ b/src/core-utils/gnc-prefs-p.h
@@ -106,6 +106,6 @@ typedef struct
 
 } PrefsBackend;
 
-PrefsBackend prefsbackend;
+extern PrefsBackend prefsbackend;
 
 #endif /* GNC_PREFS_P_H_ */
diff --git a/src/core-utils/gnc-prefs.c b/src/core-utils/gnc-prefs.c
index 9bbef1b7f8..593957a273 100644
--- a/src/core-utils/gnc-prefs.c
+++ b/src/core-utils/gnc-prefs.c
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ static gboolean use_compression   = TRUE; // This is also the default in the pre
 static gint file_retention_policy = 1;    // 1 = "days", the default in the prefs backend
 static gint file_retention_days   = 30;   // This is also the default in the prefs backend
 
+PrefsBackend prefsbackend;
+
 /* This static indicates the debugging module that this .o belongs to.  */
 static QofLogModule log_module = G_LOG_DOMAIN;