diff --git a/lang/python/helpers.c b/lang/python/helpers.c
index d5d1fc99..1ce7f487 100644
--- a/lang/python/helpers.c
+++ b/lang/python/helpers.c
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ static gpgme_error_t pyPassphraseCb(void *hook,
     err_status = _gpg_exception2code();
   } else {
     if (!retval) {
-      if (write(fd, "\n", 1) < 0) {
+      if (gpgme_io_writen (fd, "\n", 1) < 0) {
         err_status = gpgme_error_from_syserror ();
         _gpg_raise_exception (err_status);
       }
@@ -439,11 +439,11 @@ static gpgme_error_t pyPassphraseCb(void *hook,
           goto leave;
         }
 
-      if (write(fd, buf, len) < 0) {
+      if (gpgme_io_writen (fd, buf, len) < 0) {
         err_status = gpgme_error_from_syserror ();
         _gpg_raise_exception (err_status);
       }
-      if (! err_status && write(fd, "\n", 1) < 0) {
+      if (! err_status && gpgme_io_writen (fd, "\n", 1) < 0) {
         err_status = gpgme_error_from_syserror ();
         _gpg_raise_exception (err_status);
       }
@@ -761,11 +761,11 @@ _gpg_interact_cb(void *opaque, const char *keyword,
           goto leave;
         }
 
-      if (write(fd, buffer, size) < 0) {
+      if (gpgme_io_writen (fd, buffer, size) < 0) {
         err_status = gpgme_error_from_syserror ();
         _gpg_raise_exception (err_status);
       }
-      if (! err_status && write(fd, "\n", 1) < 0) {
+      if (! err_status && gpgme_io_writen (fd, "\n", 1) < 0) {
         err_status = gpgme_error_from_syserror ();
         _gpg_raise_exception (err_status);
       }
diff --git a/lang/python/helpers.h b/lang/python/helpers.h
index 61f538e2..e9faa7cf 100644
--- a/lang/python/helpers.h
+++ b/lang/python/helpers.h
@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@
 #include <gpgme.h>
 #include "Python.h"
 
-#ifdef _WIN32
-#include <windows.h>
-#define write(fd, str, sz) {DWORD written; WriteFile((HANDLE) fd, str, sz, &written, 0);}
-#endif
-
 /* Flag specifying whether this is an in-tree build.  */
 extern int gpg_in_tree_build;