diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index 87e8962..bdfa797 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -387,6 +387,11 @@ hb_subset_sources = files(
   'hb-subset.hh',
 )
 
+extra_hb_cpp_args = []
+if cpp.get_argument_syntax() == 'msvc'
+  extra_hb_cpp_args += ['/bigobj']
+endif
+
 hb_subset_headers = files(
   'hb-subset.h',
   'hb-subset-serialize.h'
@@ -559,8 +564,7 @@ defs_list = [harfbuzz_def]
 
 version = '0.@0@.0'.format(hb_version_int)
 
-extra_hb_cpp_args = []
-if cpp.get_define('_MSC_FULL_VER') != ''
+if cpp.get_argument_syntax() == 'msvc'
   if get_option('default_library') != 'static'
     extra_hb_cpp_args += '-DHB_DLL_EXPORT'
   endif