diff --git a/src/common/socket.cpp b/src/common/socket.cpp
index c273840ee1..ef8d167502 100644
--- a/src/common/socket.cpp
+++ b/src/common/socket.cpp
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@
 #include "strlib.hpp"
 #include "timer.hpp"
 
+// Reuseable global packet buffer to prevent too many allocations
+// Take socket.cpp::socket_max_client_packet into consideration
+int8 packet_buffer[UINT16_MAX];
+
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 #if defined(WIN32)
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/common/socket.hpp b/src/common/socket.hpp
index c072ee399c..13664a1ea5 100644
--- a/src/common/socket.hpp
+++ b/src/common/socket.hpp
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ void send_shortlist_do_sends();
 
 // Reuseable global packet buffer to prevent too many allocations
 // Take socket.cpp::socket_max_client_packet into consideration
-static int8 packet_buffer[UINT16_MAX];
+extern int8 packet_buffer[UINT16_MAX];
 
 template <typename P>
 bool socket_send( int fd, P& packet ){