diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 91fdfe5f9cb..120c93e7e73 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -2173,7 +2173,9 @@ if test -n "$with_gallium_drivers"; then
             gallium_require_drm_loader
 
             PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SIMPENROSE], [simpenrose],
-                              [USE_VC4_SIMULATOR=yes], [USE_VC4_SIMULATOR=no])
+                              [USE_VC4_SIMULATOR=yes;
+                               DEFINES="$DEFINES -DUSE_VC4_SIMULATOR"],
+                              [USE_VC4_SIMULATOR=no])
             ;;
         xvirgl)
             HAVE_GALLIUM_VIRGL=yes
diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/vc4/Automake.inc b/src/gallium/drivers/vc4/Automake.inc
index 6fa3e190cac..5664c2ab14e 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/vc4/Automake.inc
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/vc4/Automake.inc
@@ -6,8 +6,4 @@ TARGET_LIB_DEPS += \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/gallium/winsys/vc4/drm/libvc4drm.la \
 	$(top_builddir)/src/gallium/drivers/vc4/libvc4.la
 
-if USE_VC4_SIMULATOR
-TARGET_CPPFLAGS += -DUSE_VC4_SIMULATOR
-endif
-
 endif
diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/vc4/Makefile.am b/src/gallium/drivers/vc4/Makefile.am
index f4a57ba3404..a3bf72fc72a 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/vc4/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/vc4/Makefile.am
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ include Makefile.sources
 include $(top_srcdir)/src/gallium/Automake.inc
 
 if USE_VC4_SIMULATOR
-SIM_CFLAGS = -DUSE_VC4_SIMULATOR=1
 SIM_LDFLAGS = -lsimpenrose
 endif