diff --git a/hw/xwin/InitOutput.c b/hw/xwin/InitOutput.c
index 63fca3abb..ae1d4154b 100644
--- a/hw/xwin/InitOutput.c
+++ b/hw/xwin/InitOutput.c
@@ -90,12 +90,17 @@ extern HWND			g_hwndClipboard;
 extern Bool			g_fClipboard;
 #endif
 
-extern HMODULE			g_hmodCommonControls;
+
 extern FARPROC			g_fpTrackMouseEvent;
 extern Bool			g_fNoHelpMessageBox;                     
 extern Bool			g_fSilentDupError;                     
 extern Bool                     g_fNativeGl;
 
+/*
+  module handle for dynamically loaded comctl32 library
+*/
+static HMODULE g_hmodCommonControls = NULL;
+
 /*
  * Function prototypes
  */
diff --git a/hw/xwin/win.h b/hw/xwin/win.h
index f197def56..4d6771ca5 100644
--- a/hw/xwin/win.h
+++ b/hw/xwin/win.h
@@ -656,7 +656,6 @@ extern DeviceIntPtr             g_pwinKeyboard;
 extern FARPROC			g_fpDirectDrawCreate;
 extern FARPROC			g_fpDirectDrawCreateClipper;
 
-extern HMODULE			g_hmodCommonControls;
 extern FARPROC			g_fpTrackMouseEvent;
 
 
diff --git a/hw/xwin/winglobals.c b/hw/xwin/winglobals.c
index da1712988..d7ea2e39a 100644
--- a/hw/xwin/winglobals.c
+++ b/hw/xwin/winglobals.c
@@ -83,8 +83,6 @@ Bool            g_fNativeGl = FALSE;
  * Global variables for dynamically loaded libraries and
  * their function pointers
  */
-
-HMODULE		g_hmodCommonControls = NULL;
 FARPROC		g_fpTrackMouseEvent = (FARPROC) (void (*)(void))NoopDDA;