diff --git a/common.h b/common.h
index 663f37e7b..0516a57c0 100644
--- a/common.h
+++ b/common.h
@@ -253,8 +253,10 @@ typedef unsigned long BLASULONG;
 
 #ifdef USE64BITINT
 typedef BLASLONG blasint;
+#define blasabs(x) labs(x)
 #else
 typedef int blasint;
+#define blasabs(x) abs(x)
 #endif
 #else
 #ifdef USE64BITINT