--- a/arch/mips/Makefile
+++ b/arch/mips/Makefile
@@ -593,6 +593,9 @@
 cflags-$(CONFIG_TOSHIBA_RBTX4938) += -Iinclude/asm-mips/mach-tx49xx
 load-$(CONFIG_TOSHIBA_RBTX4938) += 0xffffffff80100000
 
+# temporary until string.h is fixed
+cflags-y += -ffreestanding
+
 cflags-y			+= -Iinclude/asm-mips/mach-generic
 drivers-$(CONFIG_PCI)		+= arch/mips/pci/
 
