diff --git a/tools/assimp_view/CMakeLists.txt b/tools/assimp_view/CMakeLists.txt
index f5365e11a..8112c19e8 100644
--- a/tools/assimp_view/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/tools/assimp_view/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ SET_PROPERTY(TARGET assimp_viewer PROPERTY DEBUG_POSTFIX ${CMAKE_DEBUG_POSTFIX})
 IF ( MSVC )
   ADD_DEFINITIONS( -D_SCL_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS )
   ADD_DEFINITIONS( -D_CRT_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS )
+  # assimp_viewer is ANSI (MBCS) throughout
+  REMOVE_DEFINITIONS( -DUNICODE -D_UNICODE )
 ENDIF ( MSVC )