diff --git a/config/ompi_setup_java.m4 b/config/ompi_setup_java.m4
index 53ac9962cd..a69a97fc50 100644
--- a/config/ompi_setup_java.m4
+++ b/config/ompi_setup_java.m4
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ AC_DEFUN([OMPI_SETUP_JAVA_BINDINGS],[
            AC_MSG_WARN([*** the Java MPI bindings in Open MPI is contingent])
            AC_MSG_WARN([*** upon user interest and developer support.])
            AC_MSG_WARN([******************************************************])
+           CFLAGS="$CFLAGS -D_REENTRANT"
+           CPPFLAGS="$CPPFLAGS -D_REENTRANT"
           ])
 
     AC_CONFIG_FILES([