diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 9d6790b517..214da35cd5 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -258,7 +258,13 @@ fi
 AC_SUBST(DEPRECATED_CFLAGS)
 
 VISIBILITY_CFLAGS=""
-AS_COMPILER_FLAG([-fvisibility=hidden], [VISIBILITY_CFLAGS="-fvisibility=hidden"])
+AS_COMPILER_FLAG([-fvisibility=hidden], [
+  VISIBILITY_CFLAGS="-fvisibility=hidden"
+  AC_DEFINE(GST_API_EXPORT, [extern __attribute__ ((visibility ("default")))], [public symbol export define])
+], [
+  VISIBILITY_CFLAGS=""
+  AC_DEFINE(GST_API_EXPORT, [extern], [public symbol export define])
+])
 AC_SUBST(VISIBILITY_CFLAGS)
 
 dnl disable strict aliasing
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/Makefile.am b/gst/rtsp-server/Makefile.am
index e2fff13d45..d08de4e6d0 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/Makefile.am
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/Makefile.am
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ libgstrtspserver_@GST_API_VERSION@_la_SOURCES = \
 
 libgstrtspserver_@GST_API_VERSION@_la_CFLAGS = \
     $(GST_PLUGINS_BASE_CFLAGS) $(GST_NET_CFLAGS) \
-    $(GST_BASE_CFLAGS) $(GST_CFLAGS)
+    $(GST_BASE_CFLAGS) $(GST_CFLAGS) -DBUILDING_GST_RTSP_SERVER
 libgstrtspserver_@GST_API_VERSION@_la_LDFLAGS = $(GST_LIB_LDFLAGS) $(GST_ALL_LDFLAGS) $(GST_LT_LDFLAGS)
 libgstrtspserver_@GST_API_VERSION@_la_LIBADD = \
 	$(GST_PLUGINS_BASE_LIBS) $(GST_NET_LIBS) $(GST_BASE_LIBS) \
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/meson.build b/gst/rtsp-server/meson.build
index d0fbde1dba..b798b889b7 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/meson.build
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/meson.build
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ gst_rtsp_server_deps = [gstrtsp_dep, gstrtp_dep, gstsdp_dep, gstnet_dep, gstapp_
 gst_rtsp_server = library('gstrtspserver-@0@'.format(api_version),
   rtsp_server_sources,
   include_directories : rtspserver_incs,
-  c_args: rtspserver_args,
+  c_args: rtspserver_args + ['-DBUILDING_GST_RTSP_SERVER'],
   version : libversion,
   soversion : soversion,
   darwin_versions : osxversion,
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-address-pool.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-address-pool.c
index 5b032bf0c4..da3e82b40c 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-address-pool.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-address-pool.c
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-16 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 #include <gio/gio.h>
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-auth.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-auth.c
index c0bcdb12fb..e691196507 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-auth.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-auth.c
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-16 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-client.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-client.c
index 2e124f8739..a55aae489e 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-client.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-client.c
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-context.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-context.c
index def64f22bd..4f08407d98 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-context.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-context.c
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include "rtsp-context.h"
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media-factory-uri.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media-factory-uri.c
index 7100b1647d..93ed9d7b72 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media-factory-uri.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media-factory-uri.c
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media-factory.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media-factory.c
index 57ced467f7..904124d1f3 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media-factory.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media-factory.c
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include "rtsp-media-factory.h"
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media.c
index 1073b89bce..b39fc93a0a 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-media.c
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-mount-points.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-mount-points.c
index 15685ba8ab..76794851ee 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-mount-points.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-mount-points.c
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
+
 #include <string.h>
 
 #include "rtsp-mount-points.h"
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-params.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-params.c
index 6025722760..5fa27afbc6 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-params.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-params.c
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-permissions.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-permissions.c
index 1667db746f..eb125489f6 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-permissions.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-permissions.c
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-15 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-sdp.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-sdp.c
index 04329dd93f..6d552f2212 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-sdp.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-sdp.c
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-server-prelude.h b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-server-prelude.h
index 4f0dca8d36..ac4ad2ce78 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-server-prelude.h
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-server-prelude.h
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@
 #include <gst/gst.h>
 
 #ifndef GST_RTSP_SERVER_API
-#define GST_RTSP_SERVER_API GST_EXPORT
+# ifdef BUILDING_GST_RTSP_SERVER
+#  define GST_RTSP_SERVER_API GST_API_EXPORT         /* from config.h */
+# else
+#  define GST_RTSP_SERVER_API GST_API_IMPORT
+# endif
 #endif
 
 #endif /* __GST_RTSP_SERVER_PRELUDE_H__ */
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-server.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-server.c
index 0a0b912fb8..de409e0346 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-server.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-server.c
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
+
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session-media.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session-media.c
index c3bac97ccb..26b7143988 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session-media.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session-media.c
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-16 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session-pool.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session-pool.c
index 8f45e28279..b09db93d45 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session-pool.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session-pool.c
@@ -39,6 +39,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include "rtsp-session-pool.h"
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session.c
index 37945f853d..e399349a73 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-session.c
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-stream-transport.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-stream-transport.c
index 99af1ae15a..a258025f79 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-stream-transport.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-stream-transport.c
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-16 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-stream.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-stream.c
index 65f0f5d2c6..81054e0423 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-stream.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-stream.c
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-16 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-thread-pool.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-thread-pool.c
index 4e14447778..6c53a01a67 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-thread-pool.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-thread-pool.c
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-11 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-token.c b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-token.c
index 733546fbdf..4062d30c06 100644
--- a/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-token.c
+++ b/gst/rtsp-server/rtsp-token.c
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@
  *
  * Last reviewed on 2013-07-15 (1.0.0)
  */
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <string.h>
 
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 88b0ec75ee..6b748c3ac0 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -30,15 +30,25 @@ plugins_install_dir = '@0@/gstreamer-1.0'.format(get_option('libdir'))
 
 cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
 
+cdata = configuration_data()
+
 if cc.has_link_argument('-Wl,-Bsymbolic-functions')
   add_project_link_arguments('-Wl,-Bsymbolic-functions', language : 'c')
 endif
 
 # Symbol visibility
-if cc.has_argument('-fvisibility=hidden')
+if cc.get_id() == 'msvc'
+  export_define = '__declspec(dllexport) extern'
+elif cc.has_argument('-fvisibility=hidden')
   add_project_arguments('-fvisibility=hidden', language: 'c')
+  export_define = 'extern __attribute__ ((visibility ("default")))'
+else
+  export_define = 'extern'
 endif
 
+# Passing this through the command line would be too messy
+cdata.set('GST_API_EXPORT', export_define)
+
 # Disable strict aliasing
 if cc.has_argument('-fno-strict-aliasing')
   add_project_arguments('-fno-strict-aliasing', language: 'c')
@@ -68,7 +78,6 @@ if glib_checks.disabled() or (glib_checks.auto() and not gst_version_is_dev)
   add_project_arguments('-DG_DISABLE_CHECKS', language: 'c')
 endif
 
-cdata = configuration_data()
 cdata.set_quoted('GETTEXT_PACKAGE', 'gst-rtsp-server-1.0')
 cdata.set_quoted('PACKAGE', 'gst-rtsp-server')
 cdata.set_quoted('VERSION', gst_version)