diff --git a/include/uv-private/uv-win.h b/include/uv-private/uv-win.h
index b2ce5189..5b0aba61 100644
--- a/include/uv-private/uv-win.h
+++ b/include/uv-private/uv-win.h
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@
 # define _WIN32_WINNT   0x0502
 #endif
 
+#if !defined(_SSIZE_T_) && !defined(_SSIZE_T_DEFINED)
+typedef intptr_t ssize_t;
+# define _SSIZE_T_
+# define _SSIZE_T_DEFINED
+#endif
+
 #include <process.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <winsock2.h>
diff --git a/include/uv.h b/include/uv.h
index 6c6125e1..cdde9059 100644
--- a/include/uv.h
+++ b/include/uv.h
@@ -57,12 +57,6 @@ extern "C" {
 
 #include "ares.h"
 
-#if !defined(_SSIZE_T_) && !defined(_SSIZE_T_DEFINED)
-  typedef intptr_t ssize_t;
-# define _SSIZE_T_
-# define _SSIZE_T_DEFINED
-#endif
-
 #if defined(__unix__) || defined(__POSIX__) || defined(__APPLE__)
 # include "uv-private/uv-unix.h"
 #else