diff --git a/docs/examples/CMakeLists.txt b/docs/examples/CMakeLists.txt
index 0963c62d9a..f69445fbfe 100644
--- a/docs/examples/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/docs/examples/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ foreach(_target IN LISTS check_PROGRAMS)
   add_executable(${_target_name} EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL "${_target}.c")
   add_dependencies(curl-examples ${_target_name})
   target_link_libraries(${_target_name} ${LIB_SELECTED} ${CURL_NETWORK_AND_TIME_LIBS})
-  target_compile_definitions(${_target_name} PRIVATE "CURL_NO_OLDIES" "$<$<BOOL:${MSVC}>:_CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE>")
+  target_compile_definitions(${_target_name} PRIVATE "CURL_NO_OLDIES"
+    "$<$<BOOL:${WIN32}>:WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN>" "$<$<BOOL:${MSVC}>:_CRT_SECURE_NO_DEPRECATE>")
   set_target_properties(${_target_name} PROPERTIES OUTPUT_NAME "${_target}" PROJECT_LABEL "Example ${_target}" UNITY_BUILD OFF)
 endforeach()