diff --git a/include/git2/common.h b/include/git2/common.h
index a16cf43d5..0e9379804 100644
--- a/include/git2/common.h
+++ b/include/git2/common.h
@@ -32,11 +32,7 @@
 			 __attribute__((visibility("default"))) \
 			 type
 #elif defined(_MSC_VER)
-# ifdef git2_EXPORTS /* defined by cmake */
-#   define GIT_EXTERN(type) __declspec(dllexport) type
-# else
-#   define GIT_EXTERN(type) __declspec(dllimport) type
-# endif
+# define GIT_EXTERN(type) __declspec(dllexport) type
 #else
 # define GIT_EXTERN(type) extern type
 #endif