diff --git a/script/init.sh b/script/init.sh
index 448d2b4..5e5cfcd 100644
--- a/script/init.sh
+++ b/script/init.sh
@@ -58,9 +58,14 @@ else
 fi
 rm -f hello.c 2> /dev/null
 
-# Make sure MSYS2 Perl is used on mingw-w64 (see issue #27)
 case $(uname) in
-MINGW*) export PERL=/usr/bin/perl ;;
+MINGW*)
+  # Make sure MSYS2 Perl is used on mingw-w64 (see issue #27)
+  export PERL=/usr/bin/perl
+  # Required to build gcc on recent mingw-w64 (see issue #41)
+  CFLAGS+=' -DWIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN'
+  CXXFLAGS+=' -DWIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN'
+  ;;
 esac
 
 install_files()