diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index d937b5fa3..2bf879608 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ endif
 # Detect and set symbol visibility
 glib_hidden_visibility_args = []
 if get_option('default_library') != 'static'
-  if host_system == 'windows'
+  if host_system == 'windows' or host_system == 'cygwin'
     glib_conf.set('DLL_EXPORT', true)
     if cc.get_id() == 'msvc'
       glib_conf.set('_GLIB_EXTERN', '__declspec(dllexport) extern')