diff --git a/render/render.h b/render/render.h
index 6c99b43c..e90b6fe6 100644
--- a/render/render.h
+++ b/render/render.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define __render_h
 
 #define _XFT_NO_COMPAT_ /* no Xft 1 API */
+#include <X11/Xlib.h> /* some platforms dont include this as needed for Xft */
 #include <X11/Xft/Xft.h>
 #include <X11/Xlib.h>
 #include <glib.h>