diff --git a/source/lib/sdl_fwd.h b/source/lib/sdl_fwd.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e4b34aee6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/lib/sdl_fwd.h
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#ifndef SDL_FWD_H__
+#define SDL_FWD_H__
+
+// 2006-08-26 SDL is dragged into 6 of our 7 static library components.
+// it must be specified in each of their "extern_libs" so that the
+// include path is set and <SDL/sdl.h> can be found.
+//
+// obviously this is bad, so we work around the root cause. mostly only
+// SDL_Event is needed. unfortunately it cannot be forward-declared,
+// because it is a union (regrettable design mistake).
+// we fix this by wrapping it in a struct, which can safely be
+// forward-declared and used for pointers.
+struct SDL_Event_;
+
+#endif	// #ifndef SDL_FWD_H__