diff --git a/include/linux/if_ether.h b/include/linux/if_ether.h
index fc2d4c8225aa..d21c305c6c64 100644
--- a/include/linux/if_ether.h
+++ b/include/linux/if_ether.h
@@ -111,7 +111,9 @@ static inline struct ethhdr *eth_hdr(const struct sk_buff *skb)
 	return (struct ethhdr *)skb->mac.raw;
 }
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_SYSCTL
 extern struct ctl_table ether_table[];
 #endif
+#endif
 
 #endif	/* _LINUX_IF_ETHER_H */