diff --git a/lib/Makefile.Watcom b/lib/Makefile.Watcom
index 470725f28cb662dbd8b4215432ec458dd3f03353..a698f9967f79a744ae210e0fe44eef569fb6fded 100644
--- a/lib/Makefile.Watcom
+++ b/lib/Makefile.Watcom
@@ -19,11 +19,16 @@ CFLAGS = -3r -mf -d3 -hc -zff -zgf -zq -zm -zc -s -fr=con -w2 -fpi -oilrtfm -bt=
 #
 ZLIB_ROOT = ..\..\..\zlib-1.2.3
 USE_ZLIB  = 0
+USE_ARES  = 0
 
 !ifeq USE_ZLIB 1
 CFLAGS += -dHAVE_ZLIB_H -dHAVE_LIBZ -I$(ZLIB_ROOT)
 !endif
 
+!ifeq USE_ARES 1
+CFLAGS += -dUSE_ARES -I..\ares
+!endif
+
 OBJ_BASE = WC_Win32.obj
 C_ARG    = $(OBJ_BASE)\wcc386.arg
 LINK_ARG = $(OBJ_BASE)\dyn\wlink.arg
@@ -119,6 +124,9 @@ $(LINK_ARG): $(__MAKEFILES__)
 !ifeq USE_ZLIB 1
 	@%append $^@ library $(ZLIB_ROOT)\zlib.lib
 !endif
+!ifeq USE_ARES 1
+	@%append $^@ library ..\ares\cares.lib
+!endif
 
 $(LIB_ARG): $(__MAKEFILES__)
 	%create $^@