diff --git a/include/mimalloc/atomic.h b/include/mimalloc/atomic.h
index d0226029..bd95dd5f 100644
--- a/include/mimalloc/atomic.h
+++ b/include/mimalloc/atomic.h
@@ -39,7 +39,11 @@ terms of the MIT license. A copy of the license can be found in the file
 #include <stdatomic.h>
 #define  mi_atomic(name)        atomic_##name
 #define  mi_memory_order(name)  memory_order_##name
-#define  MI_ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(x)  ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(x)
+#if (defined(__STDC_VERSION__) && __STDC_VERSION__ >= 201710L) // c17, see issue #735
+ #define MI_ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(x) x
+#else
+ #define MI_ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(x) ATOMIC_VAR_INIT(x)
+#endif
 #endif
 
 // Various defines for all used memory orders in mimalloc