diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 2a0ce9eb..f0fc466e 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -1142,6 +1142,7 @@ COMMON_CONFIGURE_CFLAGS = \\
 	-DSTD_GETPWUID=\$(STD_GETPWUID)				\\
 	-DSTD_ASCTIME=\$(STD_ASCTIME)				\\
 	-DHAVE_XAPIAN_COMPACT=\$(HAVE_XAPIAN_COMPACT)		\\
+	-DSILENCE_XAPIAN_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS			\\
 	-DHAVE_XAPIAN_FIELD_PROCESSOR=\$(HAVE_XAPIAN_FIELD_PROCESSOR) \\
 	-DHAVE_XAPIAN_DB_RETRY_LOCK=\$(HAVE_XAPIAN_DB_RETRY_LOCK) \\
 	-DUTIL_BYTE_ORDER=\$(UTIL_BYTE_ORDER)
diff --git a/lib/database-private.h b/lib/database-private.h
index ca71a92f..ccc1e9a1 100644
--- a/lib/database-private.h
+++ b/lib/database-private.h
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@
 
 #include "notmuch-private.h"
 
+#ifdef SILENCE_XAPIAN_DEPRECATION_WARNINGS
+#define XAPIAN_DEPRECATED(D) D
+#endif
+
 #include <xapian.h>
 
 #pragma GCC visibility push(hidden)