diff --git a/GNUmakefile b/GNUmakefile
index f15f9a8..cb86487 100644
--- a/GNUmakefile
+++ b/GNUmakefile
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ ifeq ($(DEBUG),1)
 CFLAGS += -g
 endif
 
+ifeq ($(VULKAN_NO_STRING_HELPER),1)
+VK_STRING_HELPER_DEFINE =
+else
+VK_STRING_HELPER_DEFINE = -DHAS_VK_ENUM_STRING_HELPER
+endif
+
 L_CFLAGS = $(CFLAGS) -fPIC -D_MILSKO
 L_LDFLAGS = $(LDFLAGS)
 L_LIBS = $(LIBS)
@@ -44,7 +50,7 @@ $(error Add your platform definition)
 endif
 
 ifeq ($(UNIX),1)
-L_CFLAGS += -DUSE_X11
+L_CFLAGS += -DUSE_X11 $(VK_STRING_HELPER_DEFINE)
 L_OBJS += src/backend/x11.o
 L_LIBS += -lX11 -lXrender -lXext
 
@@ -57,7 +63,7 @@ EXEC =
 
 OPENGL = 1
 else ifeq ($(WINDOWS),1)
-L_CFLAGS += -DUSE_GDI
+L_CFLAGS += -DUSE_GDI $(VK_STRING_HELPER_DEFINE)
 L_LDFLAGS += -Wl,--out-implib,src/libMw.lib -static-libgcc
 L_OBJS += src/backend/gdi.o
 L_LIBS += -lgdi32
diff --git a/src/widget/vulkan.c b/src/widget/vulkan.c
index 9ba4707..144ff4c 100644
--- a/src/widget/vulkan.c
+++ b/src/widget/vulkan.c
@@ -32,8 +32,7 @@
 #include <vulkan/vulkan_win32.h>
 #endif
 
-// MinGW's copy of vulkan string helpers is just straight up busted.
-#ifndef __MINGW32__
+#ifndef HAS_VK_ENUM_STRING_HELPER
 #include <vulkan/vk_enum_string_helper.h>
 #endif
 
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ MwVulkanConfig vulkan_config = {
 #endif
 
 // convienence macro for handling vulkan errors
-#ifndef __MINGW32__
+#ifndef HAS_VK_ENUM_STRING_HELPER
 #define VK_CMD(func) \
 	vk_res = func; \
 	if(vk_res != VK_SUCCESS) { \