diff --git a/lisp/sun-curs.el b/lisp/sun-curs.el
index 0a31d4d3a2e..b95ecde7e17 100644
--- a/lisp/sun-curs.el
+++ b/lisp/sun-curs.el
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@
 
 (require 'cl)
 
-(defvar sc::cursors nil "List of known cursors")
+(eval-and-compile
+  (defvar sc::cursors nil "List of known cursors"))
 
 (defmacro defcursor (name x y string)
   (if (not (memq name sc::cursors))