diff --git a/src/modules/kvs/cache.c b/src/modules/kvs/cache.c
index 2b6e82d68114..b6167893bf3f 100644
--- a/src/modules/kvs/cache.c
+++ b/src/modules/kvs/cache.c
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
 #include <flux/core.h>
 #include <jansson.h>
 
+#ifndef EBADE
+#define EBADE EINVAL
+#endif
+
 #include "src/common/libczmqcontainers/czmq_containers.h"
 #include "src/common/libccan/ccan/list/list.h"
 #include "src/common/libkvs/treeobj.h"