diff --git a/compiler/main.v b/compiler/main.v
index 3f5b6d22ee..35f077992c 100644
--- a/compiler/main.v
+++ b/compiler/main.v
@@ -226,7 +226,10 @@ fn (v mut V) compile() {
 #ifdef _WIN32
 #define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
 #include <windows.h>
+
+// must be included after <windows.h> 
 #include <shellapi.h>
+
 #include <io.h> // _waccess
 #include <fcntl.h> // _O_U8TEXT
 #include <direct.h> // _wgetcwd