diff --git a/api/boinc_api.h b/api/boinc_api.h
index 089d06ef24..6480b99f20 100755
--- a/api/boinc_api.h
+++ b/api/boinc_api.h
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@
 #ifndef _BOINC_API_
 #define _BOINC_API_
 
+// NOTE: this is required on windows as well as unix, do not add "#ifndef
+// _WIN32" -- if something is not working on windows let's find a working
+// solution 
 #include <string>
 using namespace std;