diff --git a/ebtree/ebtree.h b/ebtree/ebtree.h
index e5bcb5038..39226e3fb 100644
--- a/ebtree/ebtree.h
+++ b/ebtree/ebtree.h
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ struct eb_node {
 	eb_troot_t    *leaf_p;  /* leaf node's parent */
 	short int      bit;     /* link's bit position. */
 	short unsigned int pfx; /* data prefix length, always related to leaf */
-};
+} __attribute__((packed));
 
 /* Return the structure of type <type> whose member <member> points to <ptr> */
 #define eb_entry(ptr, type, member) container_of(ptr, type, member)