diff --git a/include/sane/sanei_backend.h b/include/sane/sanei_backend.h
index fe4a007ca..a706fb214 100644
--- a/include/sane/sanei_backend.h
+++ b/include/sane/sanei_backend.h
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 #endif
 #endif /* HAVE_OS2_H */
 
+#ifndef PATH_MAX
+# define PATH_MAX 1024
+#endif
+
 #ifdef HAVE_SIGPROCMASK
 # define SIGACTION      sigaction
 #else