diff --git a/include/libxml/xmlexports.h b/include/libxml/xmlexports.h
index 9c6790c..c6516b4 100644
--- a/include/libxml/xmlexports.h
+++ b/include/libxml/xmlexports.h
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
    */
   #if defined(IN_LIBXML) && !defined(LIBXML_STATIC)
     #define XMLPUBFUN __declspec(dllexport)
-    #define XMLPUBVAR __declspec(dllexport)
+    #define XMLPUBVAR __declspec(dllexport) extern
   #else
     #define XMLPUBFUN
     #if !defined(LIBXML_STATIC)