diff --git a/src/d_net.c b/src/d_net.c
index 643c41ac..8de5cf08 100644
--- a/src/d_net.c
+++ b/src/d_net.c
@@ -49,7 +49,9 @@ doomcom_t *doomcom = NULL;
 /// \brief network packet data, points inside doomcom
 doomdata_t *netbuffer = NULL;
 
+#ifdef DEBUGFILE
 FILE *debugfile = NULL; // put some net info in a file during the game
+#endif
 
 #define MAXREBOUND 8
 static doomdata_t reboundstore[MAXREBOUND];
diff --git a/src/doomstat.h b/src/doomstat.h
index 8072a155..341cc70a 100644
--- a/src/doomstat.h
+++ b/src/doomstat.h
@@ -445,19 +445,17 @@ extern mapthing_t *redctfstarts[MAXPLAYERS]; // CTF
 
 #if defined (macintosh)
 #define DEBFILE(msg) I_OutputMsg(msg)
-extern FILE *debugfile;
 #else
 #define DEBUGFILE
 #ifdef DEBUGFILE
 #define DEBFILE(msg) { if (debugfile) { fputs(msg, debugfile); fflush(debugfile); } }
-extern FILE *debugfile;
 #else
 #define DEBFILE(msg) {}
-extern FILE *debugfile;
 #endif
 #endif
 
 #ifdef DEBUGFILE
+extern FILE *debugfile;
 extern INT32 debugload;
 #endif