diff --git a/src/lib/uta_sim.c b/src/lib/uta_sim.c
index 80bb1ac..78155e7 100644
--- a/src/lib/uta_sim.c
+++ b/src/lib/uta_sim.c
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@
  ******************************************************************************/
 struct _uta_context_v1_t
 {
-    
+    /* dummy added so that the struct does not have size 0 */
+    int dummy;
 };
 
 /*******************************************************************************