diff --git a/stb_image.h b/stb_image.h
index a935b36..1a04f42 100644
--- a/stb_image.h
+++ b/stb_image.h
@@ -899,11 +899,13 @@ STBIDEF const char *stbi_failure_reason(void)
    return stbi__g_failure_reason;
 }
 
+#ifndef STBI_NO_FAILURE_STRINGS
 static int stbi__err(const char *str)
 {
    stbi__g_failure_reason = str;
    return 0;
 }
+#endif
 
 static void *stbi__malloc(size_t size)
 {