diff --git a/include/wx/msw/private.h b/include/wx/msw/private.h
index cb372c1e3b..46d14af631 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/private.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/private.h
@@ -325,7 +325,8 @@ struct WinStruct : public T
     WinStruct()
     {
         ::ZeroMemory(this, sizeof(T));
-        cbSize = sizeof(T);
+        // NB: gcc-3.4 would give syntax error without "this->"
+        this->cbSize = sizeof(T);
     }
 };