diff --git a/include/pybind11/common.h b/include/pybind11/common.h
index 44b7008e4..850aa61e6 100644
--- a/include/pybind11/common.h
+++ b/include/pybind11/common.h
@@ -396,13 +396,9 @@ template<size_t ...S> struct make_index_sequence_impl <0, S...> { typedef index_
 template<size_t N> using make_index_sequence = typename make_index_sequence_impl<N>::type;
 #endif
 
-#if defined(PYBIND11_CPP17) || defined(_MSC_VER)
-using std::bool_constant;
-using std::negation;
-#else
+/// Backports of std::bool_constant and std::negation to accomodate older compilers
 template <bool B> using bool_constant = std::integral_constant<bool, B>;
-template <class T> using negation = bool_constant<!T::value>;
-#endif
+template <typename T> struct negation : bool_constant<!T::value> { };
 
 /// Compile-time all/any/none of that check the boolean value of all template types
 #ifdef PYBIND11_CPP17