diff --git a/games/fortune/fortune/fortune.c b/games/fortune/fortune/fortune.c
index 44910ca53f9f..d06ceda74a4e 100644
--- a/games/fortune/fortune/fortune.c
+++ b/games/fortune/fortune/fortune.c
@@ -303,7 +303,9 @@ register char	**argv;
 	int ch;
 
 	ignore_case = FALSE;
+# ifndef NO_REGEX
 	pat = NULL;
+# endif /* NO_REGEX */
 
 # ifdef DEBUG
 	while ((ch = getopt(argc, argv, "aDefilm:osw")) != -1)