diff --git a/gdk/x11/gdkcursor-x11.c b/gdk/x11/gdkcursor-x11.c
index 6fddde869c..b01325b232 100644
--- a/gdk/x11/gdkcursor-x11.c
+++ b/gdk/x11/gdkcursor-x11.c
@@ -26,15 +26,16 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 
+/* needs to be first because any header might include gdk-pixbuf.h otherwise */
+#define GDK_PIXBUF_ENABLE_BACKEND
+#include <gdk-pixbuf/gdk-pixbuf.h>
+
 #include "gdkcursor.h"
 
 #include "gdkprivate-x11.h"
 #include "gdkdisplay-x11.h"
 #include "gdkx.h"
 
-#define GDK_PIXBUF_ENABLE_BACKEND
-#include <gdk-pixbuf/gdk-pixbuf.h>
-
 #include <X11/Xlib.h>
 #include <X11/cursorfont.h>
 #ifdef HAVE_XCURSOR