Path from Thomas Heller: resurrect the .def file kludge while preserving the
/export option mini-kludge.
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
index 14c2234..42eab47 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/build_ext.py
@@ -241,9 +241,21 @@
             libraries = build_info.get ('libraries')
             library_dirs = build_info.get ('library_dirs')
             extra_args = build_info.get ('extra_link_args') or []
+
             if self.compiler.compiler_type == 'msvc':
-                mod_name = string.split (extension_name, '.')[-1]
-                extra_args.append ('/export:init%s' % mod_name)
+                def_file = build_info.get ('def_file')
+                if def_file is None:
+                    source_dir = os.path.dirname (sources[0])
+                    ext_base = (string.split (extension_name, '.'))[-1]
+                    def_file = os.path.join (source_dir, "%s.def" % ext_base)
+                    if not os.path.exists (def_file):
+                        def_file = None
+
+                if def_file is not None:
+                    extra_args.append ('/DEF:' + def_file)
+                else:
+                    modname = string.split (extension_name, '.')[-1]
+                    extra_args.append('/export:init%s'%modname)
 
             ext_filename = self.extension_filename \
                            (extension_name, self.package)