diff --git a/lib/device/dev-io.c b/lib/device/dev-io.c
index 8a9ed5c73..dd65c3d2e 100644
--- a/lib/device/dev-io.c
+++ b/lib/device/dev-io.c
@@ -200,6 +200,7 @@ int dev_get_direct_block_sizes(struct device *dev, unsigned int *physical_block_
 		do_close = 1;
 	}
 
+#ifdef BLKPBSZGET /* not defined before kernel version 2.6.32 (e.g. rhel5) */
 	/*
 	 * BLKPBSZGET from kernel comment for blk_queue_physical_block_size:
 	 * "the lowest possible sector size that the hardware can operate on
@@ -209,6 +210,7 @@ int dev_get_direct_block_sizes(struct device *dev, unsigned int *physical_block_
 		stack;
 		pbs = 0;
 	}
+#endif
 
 	/*
 	 * BLKSSZGET from kernel comment for blk_queue_logical_block_size: