diff --git a/include/meson.build b/include/meson.build
index 8dda8c0fd..1e9ed1950 100644
--- a/include/meson.build
+++ b/include/meson.build
@@ -204,6 +204,9 @@ conf_data.set('TCPCONN', '1')
 conf_data.set('UNIXCONN', host_machine.system() != 'windows' ? '1' : false)
 conf_data.set('IPv6', build_ipv6 ? '1' : false)
 
+# some drivers (eg. xf86-video-intel) still relying on this symbol being set
+conf_data.set('COMPOSITE', '1')
+
 conf_data.set('DAMAGE', '1')
 conf_data.set('DBE', '1')
 conf_data.set('DGA', build_dga ? '1' : false)
diff --git a/include/xorg-server.h.meson.in b/include/xorg-server.h.meson.in
index 4c0a01c14..1d3096c3c 100644
--- a/include/xorg-server.h.meson.in
+++ b/include/xorg-server.h.meson.in
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@
 /* Default font path */
 #mesondefine COMPILEDDEFAULTFONTPATH
 
+/* Support Composite Extension */
+#mesondefine COMPOSITE
+
 /* Build DPMS extension */
 #mesondefine DPMSExtension