diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index c00ef03d9..1edb491f3 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -388,6 +388,7 @@ IF(PERL_LIBRARY_ENABLED)
 		INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES(SYSTEM "${PERL_LIBRARY_INCLUDE}")
 		ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DEMBPERL)
 		ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DEMBPERL_PLUGIN)
+		ADD_DEFINITIONS(-DPERLBIND_NO_STRICT_SCALAR_TYPES)
 	ENDIF()
 ENDIF()
 
diff --git a/zone/embperl.h b/zone/embperl.h
index e9a3f780a..02047e32e 100644
--- a/zone/embperl.h
+++ b/zone/embperl.h
@@ -18,10 +18,6 @@ Eglin
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
-// this option disables distinct int/float/string function argument types for
-// backwards compatibility with current perl api usage
-// e.g. quest::settimer(0, 1) using number for timer name instead of string
-#define PERLBIND_NO_STRICT_SCALAR_TYPES
 #include <perlbind/perlbind.h>
 namespace perl = perlbind;