diff --git a/include/sys/uio.h b/include/sys/uio.h
index 9ecc475ffd..7f0a56dc92 100644
--- a/include/sys/uio.h
+++ b/include/sys/uio.h
@@ -58,6 +58,15 @@ struct iovec
  * Public Function Prototypes
  ****************************************************************************/
 
+#undef EXTERN
+#if defined(__cplusplus)
+#define EXTERN extern "C"
+extern "C"
+{
+#else
+#define EXTERN extern
+#endif
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: readv()
  *
@@ -138,4 +147,9 @@ ssize_t readv(int fildes, FAR const struct iovec *iov, int iovcnt);
 
 ssize_t writev(int fildes, FAR const struct iovec *iov, int iovcnt);
 
+#undef EXTERN
+#if defined(__cplusplus)
+}
+#endif
+
 #endif /* __INCLUDE_SYS_UIO_H */