diff --git a/build.zig b/build.zig
index 0e5bdc4c..e207ff2f 100644
--- a/build.zig
+++ b/build.zig
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ pub fn build(b: *std.Build) !void {
     });
     module.addImport("build-options", build_options.createModule());
     if (want_mach) {
+        // Linux gamemode requires libc.
+        if (target.result.os.tag == .linux) module.link_libc = true;
+
         // TODO(Zig 2024.03): use b.lazyDependency
         const mach_core_dep = b.dependency("mach_core", .{
             .target = target,
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
index a608a7b5..a24491a3 100644
--- a/src/main.zig
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 const build_options = @import("build-options");
+const builtin = @import("builtin");
 
 // Core re-exports
 pub const core = if (build_options.want_core) @import("mach-core") else struct {};
@@ -8,7 +9,8 @@ pub const sysjs = if (build_options.want_core) @import("mach-sysjs") else struct
 
 // Mach standard library
 pub const ecs = @import("ecs/main.zig");
-pub const gamemode = @import("gamemode.zig");
+// gamemode requires libc on linux
+pub const gamemode = if (builtin.os.tag != .linux or builtin.link_libc) @import("gamemode.zig");
 pub const gfx = if (build_options.want_mach) @import("gfx/main.zig") else struct {};
 pub const math = @import("math/main.zig");
 pub const testing = @import("testing.zig");