diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-vexpress/ct-ca9x4.c b/arch/arm/mach-vexpress/ct-ca9x4.c
index 61c492403b05..0e770e89fb9c 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-vexpress/ct-ca9x4.c
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-vexpress/ct-ca9x4.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "core.h"
 
 #include <mach/motherboard.h>
+#include <mach/irqs.h>
 
 #include <plat/clcd.h>
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/mach-vexpress/include/mach/irqs.h b/arch/arm/mach-vexpress/include/mach/irqs.h
index 4b10ee7657a6..f8f7f782eb55 100644
--- a/arch/arm/mach-vexpress/include/mach/irqs.h
+++ b/arch/arm/mach-vexpress/include/mach/irqs.h
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 #define IRQ_LOCALTIMER		29
 #define IRQ_LOCALWDOG		30
 
+#ifndef CONFIG_SPARSE_IRQ
 #define NR_IRQS	256
+#endif