diff --git a/gdk/win32/gdkclipdrop-win32.c b/gdk/win32/gdkclipdrop-win32.c
index ba713f40ec..15e5855cc7 100644
--- a/gdk/win32/gdkclipdrop-win32.c
+++ b/gdk/win32/gdkclipdrop-win32.c
@@ -267,9 +267,6 @@ Otherwise it's similar to how the clipboard works. Only the DnD server
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
-/* For C-style COM wrapper macros */
-#define COBJMACROS
-
 /* for CIDA */
 #include <shlobj.h>
 
diff --git a/gdk/win32/gdkdisplay-win32.h b/gdk/win32/gdkdisplay-win32.h
index a917e2e30f..de9c36a5a5 100644
--- a/gdk/win32/gdkdisplay-win32.h
+++ b/gdk/win32/gdkdisplay-win32.h
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 #include "gdkglversionprivate.h"
 
 /* Used for active language or text service change notifications */
-#define COBJMACROS
 #include <msctf.h>
 
 #ifdef HAVE_EGL
diff --git a/gdk/win32/gdkdrag-win32.c b/gdk/win32/gdkdrag-win32.c
index 87fc0ae1c8..6a23ca6c47 100644
--- a/gdk/win32/gdkdrag-win32.c
+++ b/gdk/win32/gdkdrag-win32.c
@@ -192,9 +192,6 @@
 #define INITGUID
 #endif
 
-/* For C-style COM wrapper macros */
-#define COBJMACROS
-
 #include "gdkdrag.h"
 #include "gdkprivate-win32.h"
 #include "gdkwin32.h"
diff --git a/gdk/win32/gdkdrop-win32.c b/gdk/win32/gdkdrop-win32.c
index 94ed2e89fb..7ca058aa14 100644
--- a/gdk/win32/gdkdrop-win32.c
+++ b/gdk/win32/gdkdrop-win32.c
@@ -36,9 +36,6 @@
 #define INITGUID
 #endif
 
-/* For C-style COM wrapper macros */
-#define COBJMACROS
-
 #include "gdkdropprivate.h"
 
 #include "gdkdrag.h"
diff --git a/gdk/win32/gdkinput-dmanipulation.c b/gdk/win32/gdkinput-dmanipulation.c
index e257f656a5..6148e512eb 100644
--- a/gdk/win32/gdkinput-dmanipulation.c
+++ b/gdk/win32/gdkinput-dmanipulation.c
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
 #endif
 #define WINVER 0x0603
 #define _WIN32_WINNT 0x0603
-#define COBJMACROS
 #include "config.h"
 
 #include <gdk/gdk.h>
diff --git a/gtk/gtkfilechoosernativewin32.c b/gtk/gtkfilechoosernativewin32.c
index 01164d357b..bdb4b8f70d 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkfilechoosernativewin32.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkfilechoosernativewin32.c
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
-#define COBJMACROS
-
 #include "gtkfilechoosernativeprivate.h"
 #include "gtknativedialogprivate.h"
 
diff --git a/gtk/print/gtkprintoperation-win32.c b/gtk/print/gtkprintoperation-win32.c
index 85c04ad2a1..eedd385192 100644
--- a/gtk/print/gtkprintoperation-win32.c
+++ b/gtk/print/gtkprintoperation-win32.c
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@
  * License along with this library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-#define COBJMACROS
 #include "config.h"
+
 #include <math.h>
 #ifdef HAVE_UNISTD_H
 #include <unistd.h>
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 781f6b13af..a87d202421 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ add_project_arguments('-D_GNU_SOURCE', language: 'c')
 if host_machine.system() == 'windows'
   add_project_arguments(['-DUNICODE',
                          '-D_UNICODE',
+                         '-DCOBJMACROS',
                          '-D_WIN32_WINNT=_WIN32_WINNT_WIN7'], language: 'c')
 endif