diff --git a/external_libs/AxiSEM_for_SPECFEM3D/AxiSEM_modif_for_coupling_with_specfem/SOLVER/pthread.c b/external_libs/AxiSEM_for_SPECFEM3D/AxiSEM_modif_for_coupling_with_specfem/SOLVER/pthread.c
index 038961bf0..b9b5dee61 100644
--- a/external_libs/AxiSEM_for_SPECFEM3D/AxiSEM_modif_for_coupling_with_specfem/SOLVER/pthread.c
+++ b/external_libs/AxiSEM_for_SPECFEM3D/AxiSEM_modif_for_coupling_with_specfem/SOLVER/pthread.c
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@
 pthread_t thread = (pthread_t) 0;
 
 // stub - so c knows what the function looks like
-extern void __nc_routines_MOD_nc_dump_strain_to_disk();
+//extern void __nc_routines_MOD_nc_dump_strain_to_disk();
+
+// newer compiler versions link with nc_dump_strain_to_disk()
+// as fortran code uses:   subroutine nc_dump_strain_to_disk() bind(c, name="nc_dump_strain_to_disk")
+extern void nc_dump_strain_to_disk();
 
 // tread that calls the IO function from fortran
 void *cfunc_thread(void* valp)