diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 0f931a2030..32c49ba16e 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -290,10 +290,6 @@ all::
 #
 # Define NO_REGEX if you have no or inferior regex support in your C library.
 #
-# Define CYGWIN_V15_WIN32API if you are using Cygwin v1.7.x but are not
-# using the current w32api packages. The recommended approach, however,
-# is to update your installation if compilation errors occur.
-#
 # Define HAVE_DEV_TTY if your system can open /dev/tty to interact with the
 # user.
 #
@@ -1449,9 +1445,6 @@ ifdef NO_REGEX
 	COMPAT_CFLAGS += -Icompat/regex
 	COMPAT_OBJS += compat/regex/regex.o
 endif
-ifdef CYGWIN_V15_WIN32API
-	COMPAT_CFLAGS += -DCYGWIN_V15_WIN32API
-endif
 
 ifdef USE_NED_ALLOCATOR
        COMPAT_CFLAGS += -Icompat/nedmalloc
diff --git a/compat/cygwin.c b/compat/cygwin.c
index 871b41d23a..91ce5d4c7a 100644
--- a/compat/cygwin.c
+++ b/compat/cygwin.c
@@ -1,14 +1,9 @@
 #define CYGWIN_C
 #define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
-#ifdef CYGWIN_V15_WIN32API
-#include "../git-compat-util.h"
-#include "win32.h"
-#else
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/errno.h>
 #include "win32.h"
 #include "../git-compat-util.h"
-#endif
 #include "../cache.h" /* to read configuration */
 
 /*
diff --git a/config.mak.uname b/config.mak.uname
index d78fd3df5b..28aa239be0 100644
--- a/config.mak.uname
+++ b/config.mak.uname
@@ -158,7 +158,6 @@ ifeq ($(uname_O),Cygwin)
 		NO_SYMLINK_HEAD = YesPlease
 		NO_IPV6 = YesPlease
 		OLD_ICONV = UnfortunatelyYes
-		CYGWIN_V15_WIN32API = YesPlease
 	endif
 	NO_THREAD_SAFE_PREAD = YesPlease
 	NEEDS_LIBICONV = YesPlease