diff --git a/src/misc.c b/src/misc.c
index 0e0525e..4d89876 100644
--- a/src/misc.c
+++ b/src/misc.c
@@ -97,8 +97,11 @@ ssize_t
 _libssh2_recv(libssh2_socket_t sock, void *buffer, size_t length,
               int flags, void **abstract)
 {
+    ssize_t rc;
+
     (void) abstract;
-    ssize_t rc = recv(sock, buffer, length, flags);
+
+    rc = recv(sock, buffer, length, flags);
 #ifdef WIN32
     if (rc < 0 )
         return -wsa2errno();
@@ -130,8 +133,11 @@ ssize_t
 _libssh2_send(libssh2_socket_t sock, const void *buffer, size_t length,
               int flags, void **abstract)
 {
+    ssize_t rc;
+
     (void) abstract;
-    ssize_t rc = send(sock, buffer, length, flags);
+
+    rc = send(sock, buffer, length, flags);
 #ifdef WIN32
     if (rc < 0 )
         return -wsa2errno();