diff --git a/inc/utils.h b/inc/utils.h
index a18e6bb..456b02e 100644
--- a/inc/utils.h
+++ b/inc/utils.h
@@ -20,5 +20,5 @@ void free_uts_context(rfc3161_context *ct);
 const char *null_undef(const char *in);
 
 // some global variable to handle signals
-int g_uts_sig_up;
-int g_uts_sig;
+extern int g_uts_sig_up;
+extern int g_uts_sig;
diff --git a/src/lib/utils.c b/src/lib/utils.c
index cb18d66..5543c5b 100644
--- a/src/lib/utils.c
+++ b/src/lib/utils.c
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
 #include <syslog.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 
+// some global variable to handle signals
+int g_uts_sig_up;
+int g_uts_sig;
+
 static void signal_handler_general(int sig_num) {
     g_uts_sig = sig_num;
 }