diff --git a/include/boost/python/docstring_options.hpp b/include/boost/python/docstring_options.hpp
index cb874bb7..08346ebc 100755
--- a/include/boost/python/docstring_options.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/python/docstring_options.hpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ namespace boost { namespace python {
 
 // Note: the static data members are defined in object/function.cpp
 
-class docstring_options : boost::noncopyable
+class BOOST_PYTHON_DECL docstring_options : boost::noncopyable
 {
   public:
       docstring_options(bool show_all=true)
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ class docstring_options : boost::noncopyable
       friend class objects::function;
 
   private:
-      BOOST_PYTHON_DECL static volatile bool show_user_defined_;
-      BOOST_PYTHON_DECL static volatile bool show_signatures_;
+      static volatile bool show_user_defined_;
+      static volatile bool show_signatures_;
       bool previous_show_user_defined_;
       bool previous_show_signatures_;
 };
diff --git a/src/object/function.cpp b/src/object/function.cpp
index 19f48447..653343b9 100644
--- a/src/object/function.cpp
+++ b/src/object/function.cpp
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@
 #endif
 
 namespace boost { namespace python {
-  BOOST_PYTHON_DECL volatile bool docstring_options::show_user_defined_ = true;
-  BOOST_PYTHON_DECL volatile bool docstring_options::show_signatures_ = true;
+  volatile bool docstring_options::show_user_defined_ = true;
+  volatile bool docstring_options::show_signatures_ = true;
 }}
 
 namespace boost { namespace python { namespace objects {