diff --git a/iio-private.h b/iio-private.h
index 2fe977d91..99d3fab18 100644
--- a/iio-private.h
+++ b/iio-private.h
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@
 #define iio_sscanf sscanf
 #endif
 
-#if defined(__GNUC__)
+#if defined(__MINGW32__)
+#   define __iio_printf __attribute__((__format__(gnu_printf, 3, 4)))
+#elif defined(__GNUC__)
 #   define __iio_printf __attribute__((__format__(printf, 3, 4)))
 #else
 #   define __iio_printf