diff --git a/src/cairoint.h b/src/cairoint.h
index 4fedf86..dfa149e 100644
--- a/src/cairoint.h
+++ b/src/cairoint.h
@@ -50,7 +50,9 @@
 #include "config.h"
 #endif
 
-#ifdef _MSC_VER
+#if defined _MSC_VER && defined cairo_EXPORTS
 #define cairo_public __declspec(dllexport)
+#else
+#define cairo_public
 #endif