diff --git a/mongocxx/config/export.hpp b/mongocxx/config/export.hpp
index 61a3e74..7fc951c 100644
--- a/mongocxx/config/export.hpp
+++ b/mongocxx/config/export.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #ifndef MONGOCXX_API_H
 #define MONGOCXX_API_H
 
+#define MONGOCXX_STATIC
 #ifdef MONGOCXX_STATIC
 #  define MONGOCXX_API
 #  define MONGOCXX_PRIVATE