diff --git a/src/pulse/sample.h b/src/pulse/sample.h
index 965559ee5..90679516e 100644
--- a/src/pulse/sample.h
+++ b/src/pulse/sample.h
@@ -112,11 +112,18 @@
 PA_C_DECL_BEGIN
 
 #if !defined(WORDS_BIGENDIAN)
+
 #if defined(__BYTE_ORDER)
 #if __BYTE_ORDER == __BIG_ENDIAN
 #define WORDS_BIGENDIAN
 #endif
 #endif
+
+/* On Sparc, WORDS_BIGENDIAN needs to be set if _BIG_ENDIAN is defined. */
+#ifdef _BIG_ENDIAN
+#define WORDS_BIGENDIAN
+#endif
+
 #endif
 
 /** Maximum number of allowed channels */