diff --git a/package/pugixml/pugixml.mk b/package/pugixml/pugixml.mk
index acf22604c4..8edaddd827 100644
--- a/package/pugixml/pugixml.mk
+++ b/package/pugixml/pugixml.mk
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ PUGIXML_LICENSE = MIT
 PUGIXML_LICENSE_FILES = readme.txt
 PUGIXML_INSTALL_STAGING = YES
 
+# Pugixml will automatically enable 'long long' support on C++11 compilers,
+# which means gcc 4.8+. As gcc always supports the 'long long' type,
+# force-enable this option to support older gcc versions. See also:
+# https://gcc.gnu.org/onlinedocs/gcc/Long-Long.html
+PUGIXML_BUILD_DEFINES += PUGIXML_HAS_LONG_LONG
+
 ifeq ($(BR2_PACKAGE_PUGIXML_XPATH_SUPPORT),)
 PUGIXML_BUILD_DEFINES += PUGIXML_NO_XPATH
 endif