diff --git a/src/libmain/shared.cc b/src/libmain/shared.cc
index 4747b9bf9..d6c1c0c9c 100644
--- a/src/libmain/shared.cc
+++ b/src/libmain/shared.cc
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ int handleExceptions(const string & programName, std::function<void()> fun)
                condition is discharged before we reach printMsg()
                below, since otherwise it will throw an (uncaught)
                exception. */
-            interruptThrown = true;
+            setInterruptThrown();
             throw;
         }
     } catch (Exit & e) {
diff --git a/src/libutil/util.cc b/src/libutil/util.cc
index 37dfccd06..88a2f752c 100644
--- a/src/libutil/util.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/util.cc
@@ -946,7 +946,12 @@ void closeOnExec(int fd)
 
 bool _isInterrupted = false;
 
-thread_local bool interruptThrown = false;
+static thread_local bool interruptThrown = false;
+
+void setInterruptThrown()
+{
+    interruptThrown = true;
+}
 
 void _interrupted()
 {
diff --git a/src/libutil/util.hh b/src/libutil/util.hh
index 121423cda..ae40dcd4c 100644
--- a/src/libutil/util.hh
+++ b/src/libutil/util.hh
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ void closeOnExec(int fd);
 
 extern bool _isInterrupted;
 
-extern thread_local bool interruptThrown;
+void setInterruptThrown();
 
 void _interrupted();