diff --git a/include/pemagine/pe_api.h b/include/pemagine/pe_api.h
index 2fc6f66..081cfa0 100644
--- a/include/pemagine/pe_api.h
+++ b/include/pemagine/pe_api.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #else
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
+typedef  unsigned short wchar16_t;
 #endif
 
 /* pe_export */