diff --git a/snappy.cc b/snappy.cc
index d81e6b3..7ec3999 100644
--- a/snappy.cc
+++ b/snappy.cc
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#ifdef _MSC_VER
+#include <BaseTsd.h>
+typedef SSIZE_T ssize_t;
+#endif
 
 namespace snappy {