diff --git a/userspace/engine/falco_utils.h b/userspace/engine/falco_utils.h
index 37795e44..2642d732 100644
--- a/userspace/engine/falco_utils.h
+++ b/userspace/engine/falco_utils.h
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ limitations under the License.
 
 */
 
+#pragma once
+
 #include <sstream>
 #include <fstream>
 #include <iostream>
@@ -24,7 +26,13 @@ limitations under the License.
 #include <thread>
 #include <nonstd/string_view.hpp>
 
-#pragma once
+#ifdef __GNUC__
+#define likely(x) __builtin_expect(!!(x), 1)
+#define unlikely(x) __builtin_expect(!!(x), 0)
+#else
+#define likely(x) (x)
+#define unlikely(x) (x)
+#endif
 
 namespace falco
 {