diff --git a/include/bits/stdlib.h b/include/bits/stdlib.h
index a0e8ee14a2..fd13c94faf 100644
--- a/include/bits/stdlib.h
+++ b/include/bits/stdlib.h
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 #ifndef _BITS_STDLIB_H
 #define _BITS_STDLIB_H
 
-# define abort() __abort(__func__, __FILE__, __LINE__)
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+// C++ needs abort to be a function, define backup function
+void abort(void);
+#else
+// C uses detailed abort macro
+#define abort() __abort(__func__, __FILE__, __LINE__)
+#endif
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {