diff --git a/include/nuttx/spinlock.h b/include/nuttx/spinlock.h
index aadf26b50e3..74e1714fbe4 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/spinlock.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/spinlock.h
@@ -30,7 +30,11 @@
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SPINLOCK
+#ifndef CONFIG_SPINLOCK
+typedef struct
+{
+} spinlock_t;
+#else
 
 /* The architecture specific spinlock.h header file must also provide the
  * following: