diff --git a/include/vlc_threads.h b/include/vlc_threads.h
index 89e8ccc..297e72a 100644
--- a/include/vlc_threads.h
+++ b/include/vlc_threads.h
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ static inline void* vlc_threadvar_get( vlc_threadvar_t * p_tls )
 }
 
 # if defined (_POSIX_SPIN_LOCKS) && ((_POSIX_SPIN_LOCKS - 0) > 0)
-typedef pthread_spinlock_t vlc_spinlock_t;
+typedef volatile int vlc_spinlock_t;
 
 /**
  * Initializes a spinlock.