diff --git a/src/common.h b/src/common.h
index 35316012d..4f037f78c 100644
--- a/src/common.h
+++ b/src/common.h
@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@
 
 # define snprintf _snprintf
 
-#ifndef _SSIZE_T_DEFINED
-typedef SSIZE_T ssize_t;
-#endif
-
 #else
 # include <unistd.h>
 
diff --git a/src/win32/msvc-compat.h b/src/win32/msvc-compat.h
index 93a123f96..167e2694f 100644
--- a/src/win32/msvc-compat.h
+++ b/src/win32/msvc-compat.h
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@
 #	define strcasecmp	_stricmp
 #	define strncasecmp _strnicmp
 
+/* MSVC doesn't define ssize_t at all */
+typedef SSIZE_T ssize_t;
+
 #endif
 
 #endif /* INCLUDE_msvc_compat__ */