diff --git a/kernel-module/common_stats.h b/kernel-module/common_stats.h
index 6919d9974..15b90c81d 100644
--- a/kernel-module/common_stats.h
+++ b/kernel-module/common_stats.h
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@
 
 #ifdef __KERNEL__
 typedef atomic64_t atomic64;
+#if LINUX_VERSION_CODE >= KERNEL_VERSION(5,1,0)
 static_assert(sizeof(atomic64_t) == sizeof(int64_t), "atomic64_t != int64_t");
 static_assert(sizeof(atomic_t) == sizeof(int), "atomic_t != int");
+// else: hope for the best
+#endif
 #else
 typedef int atomic_t;
 #endif