diff --git a/configure-gyp b/configure-gyp
index edd21b16ace..f1d8a46cabb 100755
--- a/configure-gyp
+++ b/configure-gyp
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ def configure_node(o):
   o['variables']['node_use_dtrace'] = 'true' if options.with_dtrace else 'false'
   o['variables']['host_arch'] = host_arch()
   o['variables']['target_arch'] = target_arch()
+  o['variables']['visibility'] = '' # -fvisibility=hidden doesn't work with older gccs
 
 
 def configure_libz(o):