diff --git a/include/hack.h b/include/hack.h
index b21fd98dc..c97aff6af 100644
--- a/include/hack.h
+++ b/include/hack.h
@@ -1512,17 +1512,16 @@ typedef uint32_t mmflags_nht;     /* makemon MM_ flags */
 #define getlogin() ((char *) 0)
 #endif /* MICRO */
 
-/* The function argument to qsort() requires a particular
- * calling convention under WINCE which is not the default
- * in that environment.
- */
-#if defined(WIN_CE)
-#define QSORTCALLBACK __cdecl
-#else
+/* These may have been defined to platform-specific values in *conf.h
+ * or on the compiler command line from a hints file or Makefile */
+
+#ifndef QSORTCALLBACK
 #define QSORTCALLBACK
 #endif
 
+#ifndef SIG_RET_TYPE
 #define SIG_RET_TYPE void (*)(int)
+#endif
 
 #define DEVTEAM_EMAIL "devteam@nethack.org"
 #define DEVTEAM_URL "https://www.nethack.org/"
diff --git a/include/windconf.h b/include/windconf.h
index c3b6d4e05..bd30f8a6b 100644
--- a/include/windconf.h
+++ b/include/windconf.h
@@ -274,6 +274,10 @@ extern boolean file_newer(const char *, const char *);
 /* #include "system.h" */
 #endif
 
+#if defined(WIN_CE)
+#define QSORTCALLBACK __cdecl
+#endif
+
 /* Override the default version of nhassert.  The default version is unable
  * to generate a string form of the expression due to the need to be
  * compatible with compilers which do not support macro stringization (i.e.
diff --git a/sys/unix/hints/linux.370 b/sys/unix/hints/linux.370
index e3dec785b..1644cc826 100755
--- a/sys/unix/hints/linux.370
+++ b/sys/unix/hints/linux.370
@@ -165,17 +165,28 @@ endif   #WANT_WIN_CURSES
 #-INCLUDE multisnd1-pre.370
 #
 
+ifeq "$(CCISCLANG)" "1"
+# clang-specific starts
+# clang-specific ends
+else
+# gcc-specific starts
+LIBCFLAGS+=-DSIG_RET_TYPE=__sighandler_t
+# gcc-specific ends
+endif
+
 # WINCFLAGS set from multiw-2.370
 # SNDCFLAGS set from multisnd-pre.370
 CFLAGS+= $(WINCFLAGS)
 CFLAGS+= $(SNDCFLAGS)
 CFLAGS+= $(NHCFLAGS)
+CFLAGS+= $(LIBCFLAGS)
 
 # WINCFLAGS set from multiw-2.370
 # SNDCFLAGS set from multisnd-pre.370
 CCXXFLAGS+= $(WINCFLAGS)
 CCXXFLAGS+= $(SNDCFLAGS)
 CCXXFLAGS+= $(NHCFLAGS)
+CCXXFLAGS+= $(LIBCFLAGS)
 
 VARDATND =
 VARDATND0 =
diff --git a/sys/unix/hints/macOS.370 b/sys/unix/hints/macOS.370
index 05042cafd..48b9e90df 100755
--- a/sys/unix/hints/macOS.370
+++ b/sys/unix/hints/macOS.370
@@ -219,17 +219,30 @@ endif
 #-INCLUDE multisnd1-pre.370
 #
 
+# although not currently doing anything for macOS, this is
+# kept in for consistency with layout of linux.370
+ifeq "$(CCISCLANG)" "1"
+# clang-specific starts
+# clang-specific ends
+else
+# gcc-specific starts
+# LIBCFLAGS+=
+# gcc-specific ends
+endif
+
 # WINCFLAGS set from multiw-2.370
 # SNDCFLAGS set from multisnd-pre.370
 CFLAGS+= $(PKGCFLAGS) $(WINCFLAGS)
 CFLAGS+= $(SNDCFLAGS)
 CFLAGS+= $(NHCFLAGS)
+CFLAGS+= $(LIBCFLAGS)
 
 # WINCFLAGS set from multiw-2.370
 # SNDCFLAGS set from multisnd-pre.370
 CCXXFLAGS+= $(WINCFLAGS)
 CCXXFLAGS+= $(SNDCFLAGS)
 CCXXFLAGS+= $(NHCFLAGS)
+CCXXFLAGS+= $(LIBCFLAGS)
 
 VARDATND =
 VARDATND0 =