diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 636d4e25..380dcdbb 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -500,6 +500,12 @@ AC_CHECK_TYPE(
 	,
 	[[${SOCKET_INCLUDES}]]
 )
+AC_CHECK_TYPE(
+        [sa_family_t],
+        [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_SA_FAMILY_T], [1], [sa_family_t, needed to hold AF_* info])],
+        ,
+        [[${SOCKET_INCLUDES}]]
+)
 AC_CHECK_TYPE(
 	[struct sockaddr_in6],
 	,
diff --git a/src/openvpn/syshead.h b/src/openvpn/syshead.h
index ab6fa01f..4050d548 100644
--- a/src/openvpn/syshead.h
+++ b/src/openvpn/syshead.h
@@ -425,6 +425,13 @@
 #define SOL_IP IPPROTO_IP
 #endif
 
+/*
+ * Define type sa_family_t if it isn't defined in the socket headers
+ */
+#ifndef HAVE_SA_FAMILY_T
+typedef unsigned short sa_family_t;
+#endif
+
 /*
  * Disable ESEC
  */