diff --git a/src/common/event.cpp b/src/common/event.cpp
index 89a55d9a7e..7df7fb7fc5 100644
--- a/src/common/event.cpp
+++ b/src/common/event.cpp
@@ -47,12 +47,16 @@
 #endif // wxUSE_GUI
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-// events
+// event constants
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 wxEventType wxEVT_NULL = 0;
 wxEventType wxEVT_FIRST = 10000;
 
+#if WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2
+wxEventType wxEVT_USER_FIRST = wxEVT_FIRST + 2000;
+#endif // WXWIN_COMPATIBILITY_2
+
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // wxWin macros
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------