diff --git a/lisp/gnus/gnus-spec.el b/lisp/gnus/gnus-spec.el
index 784f9605037..67c0ba88742 100644
--- a/lisp/gnus/gnus-spec.el
+++ b/lisp/gnus/gnus-spec.el
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 ;;; Code:
 
 (eval-when-compile (require 'cl))
+(defvar gnus-newsrc-file-version)
 
 (require 'gnus)