diff --git a/cmake/FindLibIntl.cmake b/cmake/FindLibIntl.cmake
index 75926200c1..ab4632cf45 100644
--- a/cmake/FindLibIntl.cmake
+++ b/cmake/FindLibIntl.cmake
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ check_c_source_compiles("
 
 int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   gettext(\"foo\");
+  ngettext(\"foo\", \"bar\", 1);
   bindtextdomain(\"foo\", \"bar\");
   bind_textdomain_codeset(\"foo\", \"bar\");
   textdomain(\"foo\");
diff --git a/src/nvim/gettext.h b/src/nvim/gettext.h
index aa0e97233e..60317b8484 100644
--- a/src/nvim/gettext.h
+++ b/src/nvim/gettext.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #else
 # define _(x) ((char *)(x))
 # define N_(x) x
+# define ngettext(x, xs, n) ((n) == 1 ? (x) : (xs))
 # define bindtextdomain(x, y)  // empty
 # define bind_textdomain_codeset(x, y)  // empty
 # define textdomain(x)  // empty