diff --git a/src/seq/seqCom.h b/src/seq/seqCom.h
index 95429c2e1b67ae1f54f5f02f6c06f5abd9c2c5fe..bcb627fe499084e20851fb511a7b786c0203326d 100644
--- a/src/seq/seqCom.h
+++ b/src/seq/seqCom.h
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ typedef	struct state_set *const SS_ID;	/* state set id, opaque */
 typedef struct _seq_var SEQ_VARS;	/* defined by program, opaque */
 typedef char string[MAX_STRING_SIZE];	/* the string typedef */
 
+typedef SEQ_VARS USER_VAR;              /* for compatibility */
+
 /* these typedefs make the code more self documenting */
 typedef epicsUInt32 seqMask;		/* for event masks and options */
 typedef unsigned EV_ID;			/* identifier for an event */