diff --git a/applets.c b/applets.c
index 90667e52e..ca2de87d4 100644
--- a/applets.c
+++ b/applets.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static int applet_name_compare(const void *x, const void *y)
 	return strcmp(name, applet->name);
 }
 
-extern size_t NUM_APPLETS;
+extern const size_t NUM_APPLETS;
 
 struct BB_applet *find_applet_by_name(const char *name)
 {
diff --git a/applets/applets.c b/applets/applets.c
index 90667e52e..ca2de87d4 100644
--- a/applets/applets.c
+++ b/applets/applets.c
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ static int applet_name_compare(const void *x, const void *y)
 	return strcmp(name, applet->name);
 }
 
-extern size_t NUM_APPLETS;
+extern const size_t NUM_APPLETS;
 
 struct BB_applet *find_applet_by_name(const char *name)
 {