diff --git a/src/client/linux/handler/exception_handler.cc b/src/client/linux/handler/exception_handler.cc
index b78568d1..fc777a60 100644
--- a/src/client/linux/handler/exception_handler.cc
+++ b/src/client/linux/handler/exception_handler.cc
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "common/basictypes.h"
 #include "common/linux/linux_libc_support.h"
 #include "common/memory.h"
 #include "client/linux/log/log.h"
@@ -574,7 +575,7 @@ bool ExceptionHandler::WriteMinidump() {
     // Reposition the FD to its beginning and resize it to get rid of the
     // previous minidump info.
     lseek(minidump_descriptor_.fd(), 0, SEEK_SET);
-    static_cast<void>(ftruncate(minidump_descriptor_.fd(), 0));
+    ignore_result(ftruncate(minidump_descriptor_.fd(), 0));
   }
 
   // Allow this process to be dumped.
diff --git a/src/common/basictypes.h b/src/common/basictypes.h
index 84668b79..9426c1f6 100644
--- a/src/common/basictypes.h
+++ b/src/common/basictypes.h
@@ -38,4 +38,21 @@
   void operator=(const TypeName&)
 #endif  // DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN
 
+namespace google_breakpad {
+
+// Used to explicitly mark the return value of a function as unused. If you are
+// really sure you don't want to do anything with the return value of a function
+// that has been marked with __attribute__((warn_unused_result)), wrap it with
+// this. Example:
+//
+//   scoped_ptr<MyType> my_var = ...;
+//   if (TakeOwnership(my_var.get()) == SUCCESS)
+//     ignore_result(my_var.release());
+//
+template<typename T>
+inline void ignore_result(const T&) {
+}
+
+}  // namespace google_breakpad
+
 #endif  // COMMON_BASICTYPES_H_