diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 9100152..7005f7e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -97,6 +97,13 @@ endif
 
 add_project_arguments('-D_GNU_SOURCE', language: 'c')
 
+if host_machine.system() == 'windows'
+  lib_default = get_option('default_library')
+  if lib_default == 'static'
+    add_project_arguments('-DCAIRO_WIN32_STATIC_BUILD', language: 'c')
+  endif
+endif
+
 pkgmod = import('pkgconfig')
 python3 = import('python').find_installation()