diff --git a/src/H5FDwindows.h b/src/H5FDwindows.h
index dccb73f80bc..9ab9b6a94f3 100644
--- a/src/H5FDwindows.h
+++ b/src/H5FDwindows.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 
 /* Public header files */
 #include "H5FDpublic.h" /* File drivers             */
+#include "H5FDsec2.h"   /* sec2 driver              */
 
 /** ID for the windows VFD */
 #define H5FD_WINDOWS (H5OPEN H5FD_SEC2_id_g)
@@ -30,12 +31,6 @@
 extern "C" {
 #endif /* __cplusplus */
 
-/** @private
- *
- * \brief ID for the windows (sec2) VFD
- */
-H5_DLLVAR hid_t H5FD_SEC2_id_g;
-
 /**
  * \ingroup FAPL
  *