diff --git a/ext/directfb/Makefile.am b/ext/directfb/Makefile.am
index bb7c8f9d57..a32ab04c09 100644
--- a/ext/directfb/Makefile.am
+++ b/ext/directfb/Makefile.am
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+# directfb headers on debian will trigger redundant redeclaration warnings
+ERROR_CFLAGS=
 
 plugin_LTLIBRARIES = libgstdfbvideosink.la
 
diff --git a/tests/examples/directfb/Makefile.am b/tests/examples/directfb/Makefile.am
index 09342f6605..6985879842 100644
--- a/tests/examples/directfb/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/examples/directfb/Makefile.am
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+# directfb headers on debian will trigger redundant redeclaration warnings
+ERROR_CFLAGS=
+
 noinst_PROGRAMS = gstdfb
 
 gstdfb_SOURCES = gstdfb.c