diff --git a/parser/parser.h b/parser/parser.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c42d4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser/parser.h
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+
+#ifndef PARSER_H
+#define PARSER_H PARSER_H
+
+#define YYSTYPE refptr<Node>
+
+#endif
diff --git a/parser/parser.lex b/parser/parser.lex
index 717351f..73ca8a7 100644
--- a/parser/parser.lex
+++ b/parser/parser.lex
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 %{
 
 #include "nodes.h"
-#define YYSTYPE refptr<Node>
+#include "parser.h"
 #include "parser.tab.hh"
 
 %}
diff --git a/parser/parser.yy b/parser/parser.yy
index 540b89c..e6537a5 100644
--- a/parser/parser.yy
+++ b/parser/parser.yy
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include "util/refptr.h"
 #include "shapes/Shape.h"           /* includes all shape types */
 #include "nodes.h"
+#include "parser.h"
 using namespace std;
 
 int yylex(void);
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@ int yywrap()
     return 1;
 }
 
-#define YYSTYPE refptr<Node>
 
 static Scene * g_scene;