diff --git a/repos/os/src/init/target.mk b/repos/os/src/init/target.mk
index f425894995..0bbfa4c59c 100644
--- a/repos/os/src/init/target.mk
+++ b/repos/os/src/init/target.mk
@@ -2,3 +2,6 @@ TARGET   = init
 SRC_CC   = main.cc child.cc server.cc
 LIBS     = base
 INC_DIR += $(PRG_DIR)
+
+# workaround for constness issues
+CC_OPT  += -fpermissive