diff --git a/include/os.h b/include/os.h
index e26664d9a..8819dc247 100644
--- a/include/os.h
+++ b/include/os.h
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ typedef struct _NewClientRec *NewClientPtr;
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
 
+#ifdef _INSIDE_XSERVER
+#define _X_XSERVER_INTERNAL(msg)
+#else
+#define _X_XSERVER_INTERNAL(msg) _X_DEPRECATED_MSG(msg)
+#endif
+
 extern _X_EXPORT int ReadRequestFromClient(ClientPtr /*client */ );
 
 extern _X_EXPORT int ReadFdFromClient(ClientPtr client);
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index e95743ff9..3925cb87b 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ project('xserver', 'c',
 release_date = '2021-07-05'
 
 add_project_arguments('-DHAVE_DIX_CONFIG_H', language: ['c', 'objc'])
+add_project_arguments('-D_INSIDE_XSERVER', language: ['c', 'objc'])
+
 cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
 
 add_project_arguments('-fno-strict-aliasing', language : 'c')