diff --git include/hex.h include/hex.h
index 57845c0..e1420a1 100644
--- include/hex.h
+++ include/hex.h
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ extern bool color_enabled;
 #define max(a,b) ((a) >(b) ? (a) : (b))
 #endif
 
-FILE *fpIN;		        		/* global file ptr           */
+extern FILE *fpIN;		        		/* global file ptr           */
 
 /* function prototypes */
 
diff --git src/hexcurse.c src/hexcurse.c
index e723ddc..5a60b1a 100644
--- src/hexcurse.c
+++ src/hexcurse.c
@@ -22,8 +22,11 @@
  *									      *
 \******************************************************************************/
 
+
 #include "hex.h"					/* custom header      */
 
+FILE* fpIN;
+
 /*#define DEBUG_LLIST*/
 /*#define DEBUG_GOTO*/