diff --git a/src/db/dbAccess.c b/src/db/dbAccess.c
index 5a91f4312..6fe261fc9 100644
--- a/src/db/dbAccess.c
+++ b/src/db/dbAccess.c
@@ -67,8 +67,8 @@ of this distribution.
 #include "special.h"
 #include "asLib.h"
 
-extern struct dbBase *pdbbase;
 extern long lset_stack_not_empty;
+struct dbBase *pdbbase=NULL;
 
 static short mapDBFToDBR[DBF_NTYPES] = {
 	DBR_STRING, DBR_CHAR, DBR_UCHAR, DBR_SHORT, DBR_USHORT, 
diff --git a/src/db/iocInit.c b/src/db/iocInit.c
index 55b1a88d2..b98619c15 100644
--- a/src/db/iocInit.c
+++ b/src/db/iocInit.c
@@ -82,8 +82,6 @@ LOCAL int initialized=FALSE;
 /* The following is for use by interrupt routines */
 volatile int interruptAccept=FALSE;
 
-struct dbBase *pdbbase=NULL;
-
 /* define forward references*/
 LOCAL void initDrvSup(void);
 LOCAL void initRecSup(void);