diff --git a/src/ioc/db/dbState.h b/src/ioc/db/dbState.h
index abd23259e..c7cd81c52 100644
--- a/src/ioc/db/dbState.h
+++ b/src/ioc/db/dbState.h
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@
 
 #include "shareLib.h"
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
 /** @file dbState.h
  * @brief Generic IOC state facility
  *
@@ -89,4 +93,9 @@ epicsShareFunc void dbStateShow(dbStateId id, unsigned int level);
  */
 epicsShareFunc void dbStateShowAll(unsigned int level);
 
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
 #endif // INCdbStateH