From the build log: In file included from /usr/include/applet-widget.h:12, from build/GnomeAppletDefs.h:22, from CappletWidget.xs:8: /usr/include/libgnorba/gnorba.h:4:23: orb/orbit.h: No such file or directory /usr/include/libgnorba/gnorba.h:5:37: ORBitservices/CosNaming.h: No such file or directory --- --- Apparently, ORBit cflags are not imported.