diff --git a/examples/complete/Makefile b/examples/complete/Makefile
index fcd52d6c..d4cb59a6 100644
--- a/examples/complete/Makefile
+++ b/examples/complete/Makefile
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ mingw:
 vc98:
 	$(VC98) cl.exe /nologo $(CFLAGS) ../../test/pack.c /Fepack.exe
 	$(VC98) cmd /c 'pack.exe $(FILES_TO_EMBED) > packed_fs.c'
-	$(VC98) cl.exe /nologo /O2 $(CFLAGS) $(SOURCES) ws2_32.lib -o $(PROG).exe
+	$(VC98) cl.exe /nologo /O2 $(CFLAGS) $(SOURCES) /Fe$(PROG).exe
 	$(VC98) $(PROG).exe
 
 clean:
diff --git a/mongoose.c b/mongoose.c
index 94cd5818..8fcf9bcf 100644
--- a/mongoose.c
+++ b/mongoose.c
@@ -3102,6 +3102,7 @@ struct mg_connection *mg_sntp_connect(struct mg_mgr *mgr, const char *url,
 #define MG_SOCK_ERRNO WSAGetLastError()
 #ifndef SO_EXCLUSIVEADDRUSE
 #define SO_EXCLUSIVEADDRUSE ((int) (~SO_REUSEADDR))
+#pragma comment(lib, "ws2_32.lib")
 #endif
 #elif MG_ARCH == MG_ARCH_FREERTOS_TCP
 #define MG_SOCK_ERRNO errno
diff --git a/src/sock.c b/src/sock.c
index 45262463..db136e78 100644
--- a/src/sock.c
+++ b/src/sock.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #define MG_SOCK_ERRNO WSAGetLastError()
 #ifndef SO_EXCLUSIVEADDRUSE
 #define SO_EXCLUSIVEADDRUSE ((int) (~SO_REUSEADDR))
+#pragma comment(lib, "ws2_32.lib")
 #endif
 #elif MG_ARCH == MG_ARCH_FREERTOS_TCP
 #define MG_SOCK_ERRNO errno