diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fd8d68876..1befff42a 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2212,6 +2212,10 @@ if(SDL_SHARED)
       SOVERSION ${LT_REVISION}
       OUTPUT_NAME "SDL2-${LT_RELEASE}")
   else()
+    if(WINDOWS OR CYGWIN)
+      set_target_properties(SDL2 PROPERTIES
+        DEFINE_SYMBOL DLL_EXPORT)
+    endif()
     set_target_properties(SDL2 PROPERTIES
       VERSION ${SDL_VERSION}
       SOVERSION ${LT_REVISION}
diff --git a/VisualC-WinRT/UWP_VS2015/SDL-UWP.vcxproj b/VisualC-WinRT/UWP_VS2015/SDL-UWP.vcxproj
index b04b048fc..b55e49e19 100644
--- a/VisualC-WinRT/UWP_VS2015/SDL-UWP.vcxproj
+++ b/VisualC-WinRT/UWP_VS2015/SDL-UWP.vcxproj
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
diff --git a/VisualC-WinRT/WinPhone81_VS2013/SDL-WinPhone81.vcxproj b/VisualC-WinRT/WinPhone81_VS2013/SDL-WinPhone81.vcxproj
index 563dcbe25..b36d4f111 100644
--- a/VisualC-WinRT/WinPhone81_VS2013/SDL-WinPhone81.vcxproj
+++ b/VisualC-WinRT/WinPhone81_VS2013/SDL-WinPhone81.vcxproj
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
diff --git a/VisualC-WinRT/WinRT81_VS2013/SDL-WinRT81.vcxproj b/VisualC-WinRT/WinRT81_VS2013/SDL-WinRT81.vcxproj
index a17157ca9..39e791ad3 100644
--- a/VisualC-WinRT/WinRT81_VS2013/SDL-WinRT81.vcxproj
+++ b/VisualC-WinRT/WinRT81_VS2013/SDL-WinRT81.vcxproj
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@
       <PrecompiledHeader>NotUsing</PrecompiledHeader>
       <CompileAsWinRT>false</CompileAsWinRT>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>..\..\include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_WINDLL;_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS;SDL_BUILDING_WINRT=1;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <SubSystem>Console</SubSystem>
diff --git a/VisualC/SDL/SDL.vcxproj b/VisualC/SDL/SDL.vcxproj
index e592e94e3..0e8b293f6 100644
--- a/VisualC/SDL/SDL.vcxproj
+++ b/VisualC/SDL/SDL.vcxproj
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(ProjectDir)/../../include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <AdditionalUsingDirectories>%(AdditionalUsingDirectories)</AdditionalUsingDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_DEBUG;_WINDOWS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_DEBUG;_WINDOWS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <BufferSecurityCheck>false</BufferSecurityCheck>
       <EnableEnhancedInstructionSet>StreamingSIMDExtensions</EnableEnhancedInstructionSet>
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@
       <Optimization>Disabled</Optimization>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(ProjectDir)/../../include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <AdditionalUsingDirectories>%(AdditionalUsingDirectories)</AdditionalUsingDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>_DEBUG;_WINDOWS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;_DEBUG;_WINDOWS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <BufferSecurityCheck>false</BufferSecurityCheck>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@
     <ClCompile>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(ProjectDir)/../../include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <AdditionalUsingDirectories>%(AdditionalUsingDirectories)</AdditionalUsingDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NDEBUG;_WINDOWS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;NDEBUG;_WINDOWS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <BufferSecurityCheck>false</BufferSecurityCheck>
       <EnableEnhancedInstructionSet>StreamingSIMDExtensions</EnableEnhancedInstructionSet>
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
     <ClCompile>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>$(ProjectDir)/../../include;%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories)</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <AdditionalUsingDirectories>%(AdditionalUsingDirectories)</AdditionalUsingDirectories>
-      <PreprocessorDefinitions>NDEBUG;_WINDOWS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>DLL_EXPORT;NDEBUG;_WINDOWS;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
       <RuntimeLibrary>MultiThreadedDLL</RuntimeLibrary>
       <BufferSecurityCheck>false</BufferSecurityCheck>
       <WarningLevel>Level3</WarningLevel>
diff --git a/include/begin_code.h b/include/begin_code.h
index 1eb2f9cc2..1ca40ccdb 100644
--- a/include/begin_code.h
+++ b/include/begin_code.h
@@ -51,14 +51,8 @@
 
 /* Some compilers use a special export keyword */
 #ifndef DECLSPEC
-# if defined(__WIN32__) || defined(__WINRT__)
-#  ifdef __BORLANDC__
-#   ifdef BUILD_SDL
-#    define DECLSPEC
-#   else
-#    define DECLSPEC    __declspec(dllimport)
-#   endif
-#  elif defined(_DLL)
+# if defined(__WIN32__) || defined(__WINRT__) || defined(__CYGWIN__)
+#  ifdef DLL_EXPORT
 #   define DECLSPEC __declspec(dllexport)
 #  else
 #   define DECLSPEC