diff --git a/include/tradstdc.h b/include/tradstdc.h
index bff09c3a7..ccbb6d839 100644
--- a/include/tradstdc.h
+++ b/include/tradstdc.h
@@ -362,6 +362,8 @@ typedef genericptr genericptr_t; /* (void *) or (char *) */
 #endif
 #if __GNUC__ >= 5
 #define NONNULL __attribute__((returns_nonnull))
+/* #pragma message is available */
+#define NH_PRAGMA_MESSAGE 1
 #endif
 #endif
 
@@ -369,6 +371,8 @@ typedef genericptr genericptr_t; /* (void *) or (char *) */
 #ifndef ATTRNORETURN
 #define ATTRNORETURN __declspec(noreturn)
 #endif
+/* #pragma message is available */
+#define NH_PRAGMA_MESSAGE 1
 #endif
 
 #ifndef PRINTF_F
diff --git a/win/curses/cursmain.c b/win/curses/cursmain.c
index d5d21c678..f042adef8 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmain.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursmain.c
@@ -24,11 +24,16 @@ extern long curs_mesg_suppress_seq; /* from cursmesg.c */
 extern boolean curs_mesg_no_suppress; /* ditto */
 extern int mesg_mixed;
 extern glyph_info mesg_gi;
+
 #ifndef CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED
-#if !defined(PDCURSES) || defined(PDC_WIDE)
+#if defined(PDC_WIDE) || defined(NCURSES_WIDECHAR)
 #define USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
+#else  /* WIDE */
+#ifdef NH_PRAGMA_MESSAGE
+#pragma message "Curses wide support not defined so NetHack curses message window functionality reduced"
 #endif
-#endif
+#endif /* WIDE */
+#endif /* CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED */
 
 /* stubs for curses_procs{} */
 #ifdef POSITIONBAR
diff --git a/win/curses/cursmesg.c b/win/curses/cursmesg.c
index 60d37c085..14db90fbb 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmesg.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursmesg.c
@@ -31,11 +31,14 @@ int mesg_mixed = 0;
 glyph_info mesg_gi;
 
 #ifndef CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED
-#if !defined(PDCURSES) || defined(PDC_WIDE)
+#if defined(PDC_WIDE) || defined(NCURSES_WIDECHAR)
 #define USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
+#else  /* WIDE */
+#ifdef NH_PRAGMA_MESSAGE
+#pragma message "Curses wide support not defined so NetHack curses message window functionality reduced"
 #endif
-#endif
-
+#endif /* WIDE */
+#endif /* CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED */
 
 /* Message window routines for curses interface */