diff --git a/meta/recipes-devtools/m4/m4-1.4.19.inc b/meta/recipes-devtools/m4/m4-1.4.19.inc
index 8fb13f543b2..6a6aa21dafe 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-devtools/m4/m4-1.4.19.inc
+++ b/meta/recipes-devtools/m4/m4-1.4.19.inc
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ EXTRA_OECONF += "--without-libsigsegv-prefix"
 
 EXTRA_OEMAKE += "'infodir=${infodir}'"
 
+CFLAGS += "-std=gnu17"
+
 do_compile_ptest() {
 	cd ${B}/tests
 	sed -i '/^buildtest-TESTS: /c buildtest-TESTS: $(TESTS) $(check_LIBRARIES) $(check_PROGRAMS)' Makefile