diff --git a/dmenubar/dmenu.c b/dmenubar/dmenu.c
index d764658..7745947 100644
--- a/dmenubar/dmenu.c
+++ b/dmenubar/dmenu.c
@@ -24,6 +24,12 @@
 #define LENGTH(X)             (sizeof X / sizeof X[0])
 #define TEXTW(X)              (drw_fontset_getwidth(drw, (X)) + lrpad)
 
+#ifdef __OpenBSD__
+#include <unistd.h>
+#else
+#define pledge(a,b) 0
+#endif
+
 /* enums */
 enum { SchemeNorm, SchemeSel, SchemeOut, SchemeLast }; /* color schemes */
 
@@ -746,6 +752,9 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		die("no fonts could be loaded.");
 	lrpad = drw->fonts->h;
 
+	if (pledge("stdio rpath", NULL) < 0)
+		die("pledge");
+
 	if (fast) {
 		grabkeyboard();
 		readstdin();