diff --git a/src/error.c b/src/error.c
index f176222..d192b17 100644
--- a/src/error.c
+++ b/src/error.c
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ error_die (void)
 void
 vprintfstderr (char *fmt, va_list args)
 {
-#ifdef linux
+#ifdef USESTDERR
   vfprintf (stderr, fmt, args);
 #else
-  // nothing for non-linux yet
+  // no alternative yet
 #endif
 }
 
diff --git a/src/error.h b/src/error.h
index ad6a8f2..5bb74e8 100644
--- a/src/error.h
+++ b/src/error.h
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #ifndef ERROR
 #define ERROR
 
+//! usestderr is defined iff we use it
+#define USESTDERR
+
 //! Types of exit codes
 enum exittypes
 { EXIT_NOATTACK = 0, EXIT_ERROR = 1, EXIT_NOCLAIM = 2, EXIT_ATTACK = 3 };
diff --git a/src/symbol.c b/src/symbol.c
index 58da78d..5733ea2 100644
--- a/src/symbol.c
+++ b/src/symbol.c
@@ -318,10 +318,10 @@ getOutputStream (void)
   if (globalError == 0)
     return (FILE *) globalStream;
   else
-#ifdef linux
+#ifdef USESTDERR
     return stderr;
 #else
-    // For non-linux, we simply omit it
+    // we simply omit it
     return NULL;
 #endif
 }