diff --git a/winbuild/Makefile.vc b/winbuild/Makefile.vc
index 0bccc9801..4cf7c4480 100644
--- a/winbuild/Makefile.vc
+++ b/winbuild/Makefile.vc
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ CFGSET=true
 !MESSAGE   WITH_SSL=<dll or static>     - Enable OpenSSL support, DLL or static
 !MESSAGE   WITH_ZLIB=<dll or static>    - Enable ZLib support, DLL or static
 !MESSAGE   WITH_SSH2=<dll or static>    - Enable LIbSSH2 support, DLL or static
-!MESSAGE   USE_SSPI=<yes or no>         - Enable SSPI support, default to yes
+!MESSAGE   ENABLE_SSPI=<yes or no>      - Enable SSPI support, default to yes
 !MESSAGE   ENABLE_IPV6=<yes or no>      - Enable IPV6, default to yes
 !MESSAGE   ENABLE_IDN=<yes or no>       - Wheter or not to use IDN Windows APIs. Requires Windows Vista or later.
 !MESSAGE                                  or to install http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AD6158D7-DDBA-416A-9109-07607425A815
@@ -45,9 +45,19 @@ CURL_OBJS=$(CURL_CFILES:hugehelp.c=)
 
 CURL_OBJS=$(CURL_OBJS:.c=.obj)
 
+
+# backwards compatible check for USE_SSPI
+!IFDEF USE_SSPI
+ENABLE_SSPI = $(USE_SSPI)
+!ENDIF
+
 # default options
-!IFNDEF USE_SSPI
+!IFNDEF ENABLE_SSPI
 USE_SSPI = true
+!ELSEIF "$(ENABLE_SSPI)"=="yes"
+USE_SSPI = true
+!ELSEIF "$(ENABLE_SSPI)"=="no"
+USE_SSPI = false
 !ENDIF
 
 !IFNDEF ENABLE_IPV6
@@ -152,6 +162,7 @@ $(MODE):
 	@SET MACRO_NAME=CURL_OBJS
 	@SET OUTFILE=CURL_OBJS.inc
 	@gen_resp_file.bat $(CURL_OBJS)
+	@SET USE_SSPI=$(USE_SSPI)
 	@SET USE_IPV6=$(USE_IPV6)
 	@SET USE_IDN=$(USE_IDN)
 	@SET USE_WINSSL=$(USE_WINSSL)
diff --git a/winbuild/MakefileBuild.vc b/winbuild/MakefileBuild.vc
index 442e3c578..5791dee03 100644
--- a/winbuild/MakefileBuild.vc
+++ b/winbuild/MakefileBuild.vc
@@ -155,17 +155,17 @@ USE_WINSSL  = true
 
 !IF "$(USE_WINSSL)"=="true"
 SSPI_CFLAGS = $(SSPI_CFLAGS) /DUSE_SCHANNEL
-USE_SCHANNEL = true
-USE_SSPI     = yes
+USE_SSPI    = true
 !ENDIF
 
 
 !IFNDEF USE_SSPI
-USE_SSPI = yes
+USE_SSPI  = true
+!ELSEIF "$(USE_SSPI)"=="yes"
+USE_SSPI  = true
 !ENDIF
 
-!IF "$(USE_SSPI)"=="yes"
-USE_SSPI    = true
+!IF "$(USE_SSPI)"=="true"
 SSPI_CFLAGS = $(SSPI_CFLAGS) /DUSE_WINDOWS_SSPI
 !ENDIF