diff --git a/sys/unix/hints/include/multiw-2.370 b/sys/unix/hints/include/multiw-2.370
index 815a20b3a..2bfa75c41 100644
--- a/sys/unix/hints/include/multiw-2.370
+++ b/sys/unix/hints/include/multiw-2.370
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ endif
 
 ifdef WANT_WIN_CURSES
 WINCFLAGS += -DCURSES_GRAPHICS
-ifeq "$(NOPUTMIXED)" "1"
-WINCFLAGS += -DCURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED
+ifeq "$(USE_GENL_PUTMIXED)" "1"
+WINCFLAGS += -DUSE_GENL_PUTMIXED
 else
 WINCFLAGS += -D_XOPEN_SOURCE_EXTENDED=1
 endif
diff --git a/win/curses/cursmain.c b/win/curses/cursmain.c
index 66b71cf83..d5d21c678 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmain.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursmain.c
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ 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)
+#define USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
+#endif
+#endif
 
 /* stubs for curses_procs{} */
 #ifdef POSITIONBAR
@@ -72,10 +77,10 @@ struct window_procs curses_procs = {
     curses_destroy_nhwindow,
     curses_curs,
     curses_putstr,
-#if defined(CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED) || (defined(PDCURSES) && !defined(PDC_WIDE))
-    genl_putmixed,
-#else
+#ifdef USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
     curses_putmixed,
+#else
+    genl_putmixed,
 #endif
     curses_display_file,
     curses_start_menu,
diff --git a/win/curses/cursmesg.c b/win/curses/cursmesg.c
index 9e3601e9c..60d37c085 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmesg.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursmesg.c
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@ boolean curs_mesg_no_suppress = FALSE;
 int mesg_mixed = 0;
 glyph_info mesg_gi;
 
+#ifndef CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED
+#if !defined(PDCURSES) || defined(PDC_WIDE)
+#define USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
+#endif
+#endif
+
+
 /* Message window routines for curses interface */
 
 /* Private declarations */
@@ -46,7 +53,7 @@ static void unscroll_window(winid wid);
 static void directional_scroll(winid wid, int nlines);
 static void mesg_add_line(const char *mline);
 static nhprev_mesg *get_msg_line(boolean reverse, int mindex);
-#if !defined(CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED) || (defined(PDCURSES) && !defined(PDC_WIDE))
+#ifdef USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
 static int curscolor(int nhcolor, boolean *boldon);
 #endif
 
@@ -70,7 +77,7 @@ curses_message_win_puts(const char *message, boolean recursed)
     boolean bold, border = curses_window_has_border(MESSAGE_WIN),
                   adjustbold = FALSE;
     int message_length = (int) strlen(message);
-#if !defined(CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED) || (defined(PDCURSES) && !defined(PDC_WIDE))
+#ifdef USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
     boolean have_mixed_leadin = FALSE;
     cchar_t mixed_leadin_cchar[2];
 #endif
@@ -123,7 +130,7 @@ curses_message_win_puts(const char *message, boolean recursed)
         linespace -= 2;
     bold = (height > 1 && !last_messages);
 
-#if !defined(CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED) || (defined(PDCURSES) && !defined(PDC_WIDE))
+#ifdef USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
     if (mesg_mixed) {
         wchar_t w[2];
         int leadin_color;
@@ -152,7 +159,7 @@ curses_message_win_puts(const char *message, boolean recursed)
             message_length++; /* account for that additional column */
         }
     }
-#endif  /* CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED || PDCURSES without PDC_WIDE */
+#endif  /* USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED */
 
     if (linespace < message_length) {
         if (my - border_space >= height - 1) {
@@ -193,7 +200,7 @@ curses_message_win_puts(const char *message, boolean recursed)
     if (mx == border_space && message_length > width - 3) {
         /* split needed */
         tmpstr = curses_break_str(message, (width - 3), 1);
-#if !defined(CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED) || (defined(PDCURSES) && !defined(PDC_WIDE))
+#ifdef USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
 	if (have_mixed_leadin) {
             mvwadd_wch(win, my, mx, mixed_leadin_cchar);
             ++mx;
@@ -214,7 +221,7 @@ curses_message_win_puts(const char *message, boolean recursed)
         curses_message_win_puts(tmpstr, TRUE);
         free(tmpstr);
     } else {
-#if !defined(CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED) || (defined(PDCURSES) && !defined(PDC_WIDE))
+#ifdef USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
         if (have_mixed_leadin) {
             mvwadd_wch(win, my, mx, mixed_leadin_cchar);
             ++mx;
@@ -230,7 +237,7 @@ curses_message_win_puts(const char *message, boolean recursed)
     wrefresh(win);
 }
 
-#if !defined(CURSES_GENL_PUTMIXED) || (defined(PDCURSES) && !defined(PDC_WIDE))
+#ifdef USE_CURSES_PUTMIXED
 static int
 curscolor(int nhcolor, boolean *boldon)
 {