diff --git a/src/libCom/misc/compilerDependencies.h b/src/libCom/misc/compilerDependencies.h
index 4d451469e..4c2a8400f 100644
--- a/src/libCom/misc/compilerDependencies.h
+++ b/src/libCom/misc/compilerDependencies.h
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
 /*
  * Deprecation marker
  */
-#ifdef __GNUC__
+#if defined( __GNUC__ ) && (__GNUC__ > 2)
 # define EPICS_DEPRECATED __attribute__((deprecated))
 #else
 # define EPICS_DEPRECATED