diff --git a/src/journal/sd-journal.c b/src/journal/sd-journal.c
index 57572d4f01..a2900fbee9 100644
--- a/src/journal/sd-journal.c
+++ b/src/journal/sd-journal.c
@@ -1868,7 +1868,7 @@ static int determine_change(sd_journal *j) {
 }
 
 _public_ int sd_journal_process(sd_journal *j) {
-        uint8_t buffer[sizeof(struct inotify_event) + FILENAME_MAX];
+        uint8_t buffer[sizeof(struct inotify_event) + FILENAME_MAX] _alignas_(struct inotify_event);
         bool got_something = false;
 
         if (!j)
diff --git a/src/shared/macro.h b/src/shared/macro.h
index 1c0aa915ad..97eebbc88b 100644
--- a/src/shared/macro.h
+++ b/src/shared/macro.h
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 #define _hidden_ __attribute__ ((visibility("hidden")))
 #define _weakref_(x) __attribute__((weakref(#x)))
 #define _introspect_(x) __attribute__((section("introspect." x)))
+#define _alignas_(x) __attribute__((aligned(__alignof(x))))
 
 #define XSTRINGIFY(x) #x
 #define STRINGIFY(x) XSTRINGIFY(x)