diff --git a/include/wx/msw/setup0.h b/include/wx/msw/setup0.h
index 62ad58f2ec..09d16421ef 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/setup0.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/setup0.h
@@ -16,8 +16,11 @@
 // global settings
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-// define this to 0 when building wxBase library
-#define wxUSE_GUI            1
+// define this to 0 when building wxBase library - this can also be done from
+// makefile/project file overriding the value here
+#ifndef wxUSE_GUI
+    #define wxUSE_GUI            1
+#endif // wxUSE_GUI
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // compatibility settings