diff --git a/lib/filemode.h b/lib/filemode.h
index 162e07a0d..5b19db236 100644
--- a/lib/filemode.h
+++ b/lib/filemode.h
@@ -1,9 +1,19 @@
-#ifndef PARAMS
-# if defined PROTOTYPES || (defined __STDC__ && __STDC__)
-#  define PARAMS(Args) Args
-# else
-#  define PARAMS(Args) ()
-# endif
-#endif
+#ifndef FILEMODE_H_
 
-void mode_string PARAMS ((short unsigned int mode, char *str));
+# if HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#  include <config.h>
+# endif
+
+# include <sys/types.h>
+
+# ifndef PARAMS
+#  if defined PROTOTYPES || (defined __STDC__ && __STDC__)
+#   define PARAMS(Args) Args
+#  else
+#   define PARAMS(Args) ()
+#  endif
+# endif
+
+void mode_string PARAMS ((mode_t mode, char *str));
+
+#endif