diff --git a/scripts/mod/modpost.c b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
index 9b9f94c915d..09ffca54b37 100644
--- a/scripts/mod/modpost.c
+++ b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
@@ -359,11 +359,16 @@ handle_modversions(struct module *mod, struct elf_info *info,
 		/* ignore __this_module, it will be resolved shortly */
 		if (strcmp(symname, MODULE_SYMBOL_PREFIX "__this_module") == 0)
 			break;
-#ifdef STT_REGISTER
+/* cope with newer glibc (2.3.4 or higher) STT_ definition in elf.h */
+#if defined(STT_REGISTER) || defined(STT_SPARC_REGISTER)
+/* add compatibility with older glibc */
+#ifndef STT_SPARC_REGISTER
+#define STT_SPARC_REGISTER STT_REGISTER
+#endif
 		if (info->hdr->e_machine == EM_SPARC ||
 		    info->hdr->e_machine == EM_SPARCV9) {
 			/* Ignore register directives. */
-			if (ELF_ST_TYPE(sym->st_info) == STT_REGISTER)
+			if (ELF_ST_TYPE(sym->st_info) == STT_SPARC_REGISTER)
 				break;
 		}
 #endif