diff --git a/core/combo/HOST_windows-x86.mk b/core/combo/HOST_windows-x86.mk
index 85bc1e07b0..2f27aa75dd 100644
--- a/core/combo/HOST_windows-x86.mk
+++ b/core/combo/HOST_windows-x86.mk
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ endif # BUILD_HOST_64bit
 endif # USE_MINGW
 endif # Linux
 
+# Workaround differences in inttypes.h between host and target.
+# See bug 12708004.
+HOST_GLOBAL_CFLAGS += -D__STDC_FORMAT_MACROS
+
 HOST_CC := $(TOOLS_PREFIX)gcc$(TOOLS_EXE_SUFFIX)
 HOST_CXX := $(TOOLS_PREFIX)g++$(TOOLS_EXE_SUFFIX)
 HOST_AR := $(TOOLS_PREFIX)ar$(TOOLS_EXE_SUFFIX)