diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index da10cca..b5dfdec 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 static std::pair<int, int> self_pipe = std::make_pair(-1, -1);
 static time_t last_refresh_time = 0;
 
-std::set<pid_t> pidsToWatch;
+extern std::set<pid_t> pidsToWatch;
 
 // selectable file descriptors for the main loop
 static fd_set pc_loop_fd_set;
diff --git a/src/process.cpp b/src/process.cpp
index 6c6dd30..724aec9 100644
--- a/src/process.cpp
+++ b/src/process.cpp
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ Process *unknownudp;
 Process *unknownip;
 ProcList *processes;
 
-extern std::set<pid_t> pidsToWatch;
+std::set<pid_t> pidsToWatch;
 
 #define KB (1UL << 10)
 #define MB (1UL << 20)