diff --git a/include/mbedtls/net_sockets.h b/include/mbedtls/net_sockets.h
index c8214a2..0c754b1 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/net_sockets.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/net_sockets.h
@@ -94,7 +94,13 @@
  */
 typedef struct mbedtls_net_context
 {
-    int MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(fd);             /**< The underlying file descriptor                 */
+    /** The underlying file descriptor.
+     *
+     * This field is only guaranteed to be present on POSIX/Unix-like platforms.
+     * On other platforms, it may have a different type, have a different
+     * meaning, or be absent altogether.
+     */
+    int fd;
 }
 mbedtls_net_context;
 
diff --git a/programs/ssl/mini_client.c b/programs/ssl/mini_client.c
index 1e0bef6..97bfe68 100644
--- a/programs/ssl/mini_client.c
+++ b/programs/ssl/mini_client.c
@@ -246,13 +246,13 @@
     addr.sin_addr.s_addr = *((char *) &ret) == ret ? ADDR_LE : ADDR_BE;
     ret = 0;
 
-    if( ( server_fd.MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(fd) = socket( AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0 ) ) < 0 )
+    if( ( server_fd.fd = socket( AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM, 0 ) ) < 0 )
     {
         ret = socket_failed;
         goto exit;
     }
 
-    if( connect( server_fd.MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(fd),
+    if( connect( server_fd.fd,
                 (const struct sockaddr *) &addr, sizeof( addr ) ) < 0 )
     {
         ret = connect_failed;