diff --git a/3d-viewer/common_ogl/ogl_utils.cpp b/3d-viewer/common_ogl/ogl_utils.cpp
index 0628acfef5..4960632154 100644
--- a/3d-viewer/common_ogl/ogl_utils.cpp
+++ b/3d-viewer/common_ogl/ogl_utils.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
  * @brief implements generic openGL functions that are common to any openGL target
  */
 
+#include <stdexcept>
 #include <gal/opengl/kiglew.h>    // Must be included first
 
 #include "openGL_includes.h"
diff --git a/3d-viewer/common_ogl/openGL_includes.h b/3d-viewer/common_ogl/openGL_includes.h
index d8df359229..5ce225c588 100644
--- a/3d-viewer/common_ogl/openGL_includes.h
+++ b/3d-viewer/common_ogl/openGL_includes.h
@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@
 #include <OpenGL/gl.h>
 #include <OpenGL/glu.h>
 #else
+
+#ifdef _WIN32
+// required for the windows gl.h to work
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#include <windows.h>
+#endif
+
 #include <GL/gl.h>
 #include <GL/glu.h>
 #endif