diff --git a/lisp/ob-C.el b/lisp/ob-C.el
index c460be326..2fcec790c 100644
--- a/lisp/ob-C.el
+++ b/lisp/ob-C.el
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 ;; - not much in the way of error feedback
 
 ;;; Code:
+(eval-when-compile
+  (require 'cl))
 (require 'ob)
 (require 'cc-mode)