diff --git a/newlib/libc/include/sys/_types.h b/newlib/libc/include/sys/_types.h
index 88a18b310..32e7fefb1 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/include/sys/_types.h
+++ b/newlib/libc/include/sys/_types.h
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ typedef	_CLOCKID_T_	__clockid_t;
 #define	_TIMER_T_	unsigned long
 typedef	_TIMER_T_	__timer_t;
 
+typedef	unsigned short	__nlink_t;
 typedef	long		__suseconds_t;	/* microseconds (signed) */
 
 #endif	/* _SYS__TYPES_H */
diff --git a/newlib/libc/include/sys/types.h b/newlib/libc/include/sys/types.h
index 6d9865cfc..3e803c3ab 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/include/sys/types.h
+++ b/newlib/libc/include/sys/types.h
@@ -205,7 +205,10 @@ typedef	__mode_t	mode_t;		/* permissions */
 #define	_MODE_T_DECLARED
 #endif
 
-typedef unsigned short nlink_t;
+#ifndef _NLINK_T_DECLARED
+typedef	__nlink_t	nlink_t;	/* link count */
+#define	_NLINK_T_DECLARED
+#endif
 
 #if !defined(__clockid_t_defined) && !defined(_CLOCKID_T_DECLARED)
 typedef	__clockid_t	clockid_t;