diff --git a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_json.c b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_json.c
index 3ff2fd6ca..30105d1a9 100644
--- a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_json.c
+++ b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_json.c
@@ -9,15 +9,18 @@
  */
 
 #include "util/u_json.h"
+#ifndef XRT_HAVE_SYSTEM_CJSON
+#if defined(_MSC_VER) && !defined(_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS)
+#define _CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS
+#endif
+#endif
+
 #include "util/u_logging.h"
 
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #ifndef XRT_HAVE_SYSTEM_CJSON
-#if defined(_MSC_VER) && !defined(_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS)
-#define _CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS
-#endif
 // This includes the c file completely.
 #include "cjson/cJSON.c"
 #endif