diff --git a/src/msw/utils.cpp b/src/msw/utils.cpp
index ab922173c2..b6bb6443b0 100644
--- a/src/msw/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/utils.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@
     #include "wx/log.h"
 #endif  //WX_PRECOMP
 
+// In some mingws there is a missing extern "C" int the winsock header,
+// so we put it here just to be safe. Note that this must appear _before_
+// #include "wx/msw/private.h" which itself includes <windows.h>, as this 
+// one in turn includes <winsock.h> unless we define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN.
+//
+#if defined(__WIN32__) && !defined(__TWIN32__)
+extern "C" {
+    #include <winsock.h>    // we use socket functions in wxGetFullHostName()
+}
+#endif
+
 #include "wx/msw/private.h"     // includes <windows.h>
 
 #include "wx/timer.h"
@@ -61,10 +72,6 @@
     #include <dir.h>
 #endif
 
-#if defined(__WIN32__) && !defined(__TWIN32__)
-    #include <winsock.h> // we use socket functions in wxGetFullHostName()
-#endif
-
 // VZ: there is some code using NetXXX() functions to get the full user name:
 //     I don't think it's a good idea because they don't work under Win95 and
 //     seem to return the same as wxGetUserId() under NT. If you really want
@@ -178,9 +185,6 @@ bool wxGetHostName(wxChar *buf, int maxSize)
 // get full hostname (with domain name if possible)
 bool wxGetFullHostName(wxChar *buf, int maxSize)
 {
-// This breaks _at least_ mingw!!
-#if 0
-
 #if defined(__WIN32__) && !defined(__TWIN32__)
     // TODO should use GetComputerNameEx() when available
     WSADATA wsa;
@@ -220,8 +224,6 @@ bool wxGetFullHostName(wxChar *buf, int maxSize)
     }
 #endif // Win32
 
-#endif // 0
-
     return wxGetHostName(buf, maxSize);
 }