diff --git a/src/servers/Server_REST/CMakeLists.txt b/src/servers/Server_REST/CMakeLists.txt
index 59de42a2..509944cc 100644
--- a/src/servers/Server_REST/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/servers/Server_REST/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ set_target_properties(server_rest PROPERTIES
 if (UNIX)
   target_link_libraries (server_rest Common xivdat pthread mysqlclient dl z)
 else()
+  # ignore unchecked iterators warnings from msvc
+  add_definitions(-D_SCL_SECURE_NO_WARNINGS)
+
   target_link_libraries (server_rest Common xivdat libmysql zlib1)
 endif()