diff --git a/src/common/libev/ev.c b/src/common/libev/ev.c
index 544cb35b8d29..cc9e57455e55 100644
--- a/src/common/libev/ev.c
+++ b/src/common/libev/ev.c
@@ -564,6 +564,12 @@ struct signalfd_siginfo
 # endif
 #endif
 
+/* disable timerfd on macos */
+#ifdef __APPLE__
+#  undef EV_USE_TIMERFD
+#  define EV_USE_TIMERFD 0
+#endif
+
 /*****************************************************************************/
 
 #if EV_VERIFY >= 3