diff --git a/libs/util/string.c b/libs/util/string.c
index c5989f5be..08c9e2f6a 100644
--- a/libs/util/string.c
+++ b/libs/util/string.c
@@ -31,7 +31,12 @@
 static __attribute__ ((unused)) const char rcsid[] = 
 	"$Id$";
 
-#include <string.h>
+#ifdef HAVE_STRING_H
+# include <string.h>
+#endif
+#ifdef HAVE_STRINGS_H
+# include <strings.h>
+#endif
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #include "qstring.h"