diff --git a/util/string-util.h b/util/string-util.h
index 8a3ad19e..ccad17f1 100644
--- a/util/string-util.h
+++ b/util/string-util.h
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 
 #include <string.h>
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+extern "C" {
+#endif
+
 /* like strtok(3), but without state, and doesn't modify s.  Return
  * value is indicated by pointer and length, not null terminator.
  *
@@ -57,4 +61,8 @@ int
 parse_boolean_term (void *ctx, const char *str,
 		    char **prefix_out, char **term_out);
 
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif
+
 #endif