diff --git a/include/mbedtls/net_sockets.h b/include/mbedtls/net_sockets.h
index c8214a2..0c754b1 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/net_sockets.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/net_sockets.h
@@ -94,7 +94,13 @@
  */
 typedef struct mbedtls_net_context
 {
-    int MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(fd);             /**< The underlying file descriptor                 */
+    /** The underlying file descriptor.
+     *
+     * This field is only guaranteed to be present on POSIX/Unix-like platforms.
+     * On other platforms, it may have a different type, have a different
+     * meaning, or be absent altogether.
+     */
+    int fd;
 }
 mbedtls_net_context;