diff --git a/mk/spdk.common.mk b/mk/spdk.common.mk
index 9e967e1a9..f4fd20bbc 100644
--- a/mk/spdk.common.mk
+++ b/mk/spdk.common.mk
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ LDFLAGS += --coverage
 endif
 endif
 
-CFLAGS   += $(COMMON_CFLAGS) -Wno-pointer-sign -std=gnu11
+CFLAGS   += $(COMMON_CFLAGS) -Wno-pointer-sign -std=gnu99
 
 MAKEFLAGS += --no-print-directory