diff --git a/gst/gstconfig.h.in b/gst/gstconfig.h.in
index 33dfed1f69..cb92a2c5e8 100644
--- a/gst/gstconfig.h.in
+++ b/gst/gstconfig.h.in
@@ -155,6 +155,12 @@
 # endif
 #endif
 
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) && !defined(GST_STATIC_COMPILATION)
+# define GST_API_IMPORT __declspec(dllimport) extern
+#else
+# define GST_API_IMPORT extern
+#endif
+
 #ifndef GST_API
 #define GST_API GST_EXPORT
 #endif