diff --git a/ares/m4/cares-compilers.m4 b/ares/m4/cares-compilers.m4
index 77e4651a7..a8f1cd58a 100644
--- a/ares/m4/cares-compilers.m4
+++ b/ares/m4/cares-compilers.m4
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #***************************************************************************
 
 # File version for 'aclocal' use. Keep it a single number.
-# serial 59
+# serial 60
 
 
 dnl CARES_CHECK_COMPILER
@@ -1252,8 +1252,8 @@ AC_DEFUN([CARES_CHECK_COMPILER_ARRAY_SIZE_NEGATIVE], [
 dnl CARES_CHECK_COMPILER_HIDDEN_SYMBOLS
 dnl -------------------------------------------------
 dnl Verify if compiler supports hiding library internal symbols, setting
-dnl shell variable hidden_symbols_supported value as appropriate, as well
-dnl as variable hidden_symbols_CFLAGS when supported.
+dnl shell variable hidden_symbols_supported value as appropriate, as well as
+dnl variables hidden_symbols_CFLAGS and hidden_symbols_extern when supported.
 
 AC_DEFUN([CARES_CHECK_COMPILER_HIDDEN_SYMBOLS], [
   AC_REQUIRE([CARES_CHECK_COMPILER])dnl
@@ -1261,6 +1261,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([CARES_CHECK_COMPILER_HIDDEN_SYMBOLS], [
   AC_MSG_CHECKING([if compiler supports hiding library internal symbols])
   hidden_symbols_supported="no"
   hidden_symbols_CFLAGS=""
+  hidden_symbols_extern=""
   tmp_CFLAGS=""
   tmp_extern=""
   case "$compiler_id" in
@@ -1332,11 +1333,8 @@ AC_DEFUN([CARES_CHECK_COMPILER_HIDDEN_SYMBOLS], [
   fi
   if test "$hidden_symbols_supported" = "yes"; then
     AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
-    AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(CARES_HIDDEN_SYMBOLS, 1,
-      [Define to 1 to enable hiding of library internal symbols.])
-    AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(CARES_EXTERN_SYMBOL, $tmp_extern,
-      [Definition to make a library symbol externally visible.])
     hidden_symbols_CFLAGS="$tmp_CFLAGS"
+    hidden_symbols_extern="$tmp_extern"
   else
     AC_MSG_RESULT([no])
   fi
diff --git a/ares/m4/cares-confopts.m4 b/ares/m4/cares-confopts.m4
index 5af3232ad..241bb498e 100644
--- a/ares/m4/cares-confopts.m4
+++ b/ares/m4/cares-confopts.m4
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 #***************************************************************************
 
 # File version for 'aclocal' use. Keep it a single number.
-# serial 6
+# serial 7
 
 
 dnl CARES_CHECK_OPTION_CURLDEBUG
@@ -303,10 +303,15 @@ dnl been done to prevent interferences on other tests.
 
 AC_DEFUN([CARES_CONFIGURE_HIDDEN_SYMBOLS], [
   AC_MSG_CHECKING([whether to actually hide library internal symbols])
-  if test "$want_hidden_symbols" = "yes" &&
+  if test x"$ac_cv_native_windows" != "xyes" &&
+    test "$want_hidden_symbols" = "yes" &&
     test "$hidden_symbols_supported" = "yes"; then
     tmp_save_CFLAGS="$CFLAGS"
     CFLAGS="$tmp_save_CFLAGS $hidden_symbols_CFLAGS"
+    AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(CARES_HIDDEN_SYMBOLS, 1,
+      [Define to 1 to enable hiding of library internal symbols.])
+    AC_DEFINE_UNQUOTED(CARES_EXTERN_SYMBOL, $hidden_symbols_extern,
+      [Definition to make a library symbol externally visible.])
     AC_MSG_RESULT([yes])
   else
     AC_MSG_RESULT([no])