diff --git a/src/if_python.c b/src/if_python.c
index 6338a5b..7f90ede 100644
--- a/src/if_python.c
+++ b/src/if_python.c
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@
 # undef PY_SSIZE_T_CLEAN
 #endif
 
+// these are NULL for Python 2
+#define ERRORS_DECODE_ARG NULL
+#define ERRORS_ENCODE_ARG ERRORS_DECODE_ARG
+
 #undef main // Defined in python.h - aargh
 #undef HAVE_FCNTL_H // Clash with os_win32.h