diff --git a/kpartx/devmapper.c b/kpartx/devmapper.c
index 3efd6dfcc..49ffd3103 100644
--- a/kpartx/devmapper.c
+++ b/kpartx/devmapper.c
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@
 #define MAX_PREFIX_LEN (_UUID_PREFIX_LEN + 4)
 #define PARAMS_SIZE 1024
 
+#ifdef LIBDM_API_COOKIE
+#    define __DM_API_COOKIE_UNUSED__ /* empty */
+#else
+#    define __DM_API_COOKIE_UNUSED__ __attribute__((unused))
+#endif
+
 int dm_prereq(char * str, uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t z)
 {
 	int r = 1;
@@ -55,12 +61,12 @@ int dm_prereq(char * str, uint32_t x, uint32_t y, uint32_t z)
 	return r;
 }
 
-int dm_simplecmd(int task, const char *name, int no_flush, uint16_t udev_flags)
+int dm_simplecmd(int task, const char *name, int no_flush, __DM_API_COOKIE_UNUSED__ uint16_t udev_flags)
 {
 	int r = 0;
+#ifdef LIBDM_API_COOKIE
 	int udev_wait_flag = (task == DM_DEVICE_RESUME ||
 			      task == DM_DEVICE_REMOVE);
-#ifdef LIBDM_API_COOKIE
 	uint32_t cookie = 0;
 #endif
 	struct dm_task *dmt;