diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 02d6ea39ddb94532f1a8f0413a4e92f1eec6c3d7..90283abb770f9671e40fa87b124bcd909f2ac941 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ all::
 #
 # Define NO_MKSTEMPS if you don't have mkstemps in the C library.
 #
+# Define NO_GECOS_IN_PWENT if you don't have pw_gecos in struct passwd
+# in the C library.
+#
 # Define NO_LIBGEN_H if you don't have libgen.h.
 #
 # Define NEEDS_LIBGEN if your libgen needs -lgen when linking
diff --git a/ident.c b/ident.c
index 4232084208943c0772e394cfcff2328fb04493af..770b9e02c823dd80b89df2d8a83b975238126fcb 100644
--- a/ident.c
+++ b/ident.c
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@
 
 static char git_default_date[50];
 
+#ifdef NO_GECOS_IN_PWENT
+#define get_gecos(ignored) "&"
+#else
+#define get_gecos(struct_passwd) ((struct_passwd)->pw_gecos)
+#endif
+
 static void copy_gecos(const struct passwd *w, char *name, size_t sz)
 {
 	char *src, *dst;
@@ -20,7 +26,7 @@ static void copy_gecos(const struct passwd *w, char *name, size_t sz)
 	 * with commas.  Also & stands for capitalized form of the login name.
 	 */
 
-	for (len = 0, dst = name, src = w->pw_gecos; len < sz; src++) {
+	for (len = 0, dst = name, src = get_gecos(w); len < sz; src++) {
 		int ch = *src;
 		if (ch != '&') {
 			*dst++ = ch;