diff --git a/contrib/src/stc/scintilla/include/SString.h b/contrib/src/stc/scintilla/include/SString.h
index 6bfe50fccd..3c7ccc33a5 100644
--- a/contrib/src/stc/scintilla/include/SString.h
+++ b/contrib/src/stc/scintilla/include/SString.h
@@ -369,7 +369,11 @@ public:
  */
 inline char *StringDup(
 	const char *s,			///< The string to duplicate
-	SString::lenpos_t len=SString::measure_length)	///< The length of memory to allocate. Optional.
+        /* gcc 2.96 doesn't seem to like this syntax: gives
+           'non-local function uses anonymous type'
+           SString::lenpos_t len=SString::measure_length)	///< The length of memory to allocate. Optional.
+        */
+        SString::lenpos_t len=0xffffffffU)	///< The length of memory to allocate. Optional.
 {
 	return SString::StringAllocate(s, len);
 }