diff --git a/package/jq/jq.mk b/package/jq/jq.mk
index aecdba2280..79629faa5e 100644
--- a/package/jq/jq.mk
+++ b/package/jq/jq.mk
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ JQ_LICENSE_FILES = COPYING
 JQ_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 
 # uses c99 specific features
-JQ_CONF_ENV += CFLAGS="$(TARGET_CFLAGS) -std=c99"
-HOST_JQ_CONF_ENV += CFLAGS="$(HOST_CFLAGS) -std=c99"
+# _GNU_SOURCE added to fix gcc6+ host compilation
+# (https://github.com/stedolan/jq/issues/1598)
+JQ_CONF_ENV += CFLAGS="$(TARGET_CFLAGS) -std=c99 -D_GNU_SOURCE"
+HOST_JQ_CONF_ENV += CFLAGS="$(HOST_CFLAGS) -std=c99 -D_GNU_SOURCE"
 
 # jq explicitly enables maintainer mode, which we don't need/want
 JQ_CONF_OPTS += --disable-maintainer-mode