diff --git a/hpet.h b/hpet.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..754051a443
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hpet.h
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#ifndef	__HPET__
+#define	__HPET__ 1
+
+
+
+struct hpet_info {
+	unsigned long hi_ireqfreq;	/* Hz */
+	unsigned long hi_flags;	/* information */
+	unsigned short hi_hpet;
+	unsigned short hi_timer;
+};
+
+#define	HPET_INFO_PERIODIC	0x0001	/* timer is periodic */
+
+#define	HPET_IE_ON	_IO('h', 0x01)	/* interrupt on */
+#define	HPET_IE_OFF	_IO('h', 0x02)	/* interrupt off */
+#define	HPET_INFO	_IOR('h', 0x03, struct hpet_info)
+#define	HPET_EPI	_IO('h', 0x04)	/* enable periodic */
+#define	HPET_DPI	_IO('h', 0x05)	/* disable periodic */
+#define	HPET_IRQFREQ	_IOW('h', 0x6, unsigned long)	/* IRQFREQ usec */
+
+#endif				/* !__HPET__ */
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 5f7779af29..57e5d60273 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -58,7 +58,12 @@
 #include <pty.h>
 #include <malloc.h>
 #include <linux/rtc.h>
-#include <linux/hpet.h>
+
+/* For the benefit of older linux systems which don't supply it,
+   we use a local copy of hpet.h. */
+/* #include <linux/hpet.h> */
+#include "hpet.h"
+
 #include <linux/ppdev.h>
 #include <linux/parport.h>
 #else