diff --git a/Cython/Utility/ModuleSetupCode.c b/Cython/Utility/ModuleSetupCode.c
index f261e18db997401d2ac02caebb9bdcc4df86b18d..13d4418f30a627e8906d7bba0a41e560390850c7 100644
--- a/Cython/Utility/ModuleSetupCode.c
+++ b/Cython/Utility/ModuleSetupCode.c
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
 #ifndef CYTHON_RESTRICT
   #if defined(__GNUC__)
     #define CYTHON_RESTRICT __restrict__
-  #elif defined(_MSC_VER)
+  #elif defined(_MSC_VER) && _MSC_VER >= 1400
     #define CYTHON_RESTRICT __restrict
   #elif defined (__STDC_VERSION__) && __STDC_VERSION__ >= 199901L
     #define CYTHON_RESTRICT restrict