diff --git a/client/net_xfer.C b/client/net_xfer.C
index db33d732f9..3214b3355b 100644
--- a/client/net_xfer.C
+++ b/client/net_xfer.C
@@ -72,8 +72,10 @@ typedef int socklen_t;
 #elif defined ( __APPLE__)
 typedef int32_t socklen_t;
 #elif !GETSOCKOPT_SOCKLEN_T
+#ifndef socklen_t
 typedef size_t socklen_t;
 #endif
+#endif
 
 int get_socket_error(int fd) {
     socklen_t intsize = sizeof(int);