diff --git a/src/p_enemy.c b/src/p_enemy.c
index 4c256e9ed..27033acbc 100644
--- a/src/p_enemy.c
+++ b/src/p_enemy.c
@@ -3322,7 +3322,8 @@ void A_SkullAttack(mobj_t *actor)
 		fixed_t oldradius = mobjinfo[MT_NULL].radius;
 		fixed_t oldheight = mobjinfo[MT_NULL].height;
 		mobj_t *check;
-		INT32 i, j, k;
+		INT32 i, j;
+		static INT32 k;/* static for (at least) GCC 9.1 weirdness */
 		boolean allow;
 		angle_t testang;