diff --git a/lisp/org-persist.el b/lisp/org-persist.el
index a96f0fdc9..a0652b99c 100644
--- a/lisp/org-persist.el
+++ b/lisp/org-persist.el
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@
 (declare-function org-next-visible-heading "org" (arg))
 (declare-function org-at-heading-p "org" (&optional invisible-not-ok))
 
+;; Silence byte-compiler (used in `org-persist--write-elisp-file').
+(defvar pp-use-max-width)
 
 (defconst org-persist--storage-version "3.1"
   "Persistent storage layout version.")