diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/Makefile.MinGW b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/Makefile.MinGW
index 96def265ac7..d6356477d51 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/Makefile.MinGW
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/Makefile.MinGW
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ CC = gcc
 CXX = g++
 LINK = g++
 
+# -D_NO_ALPHABLEND for builds without msimg32.dll dependency
 CFLAGS	= -DWIN32 -D_WIN32_IE=0x0600 -D_WIN32_WINNT=0x0501 -DWINVER=0x0500 -fexceptions -Wall -I.
 RCFLAGS	= -DWIN32 -D__WINDRES__
 LFLAGS	= -Wl,--subsystem,windows
diff --git a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/traynotify.cpp b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/traynotify.cpp
index e8f35554523..072e387318c 100644
--- a/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/traynotify.cpp
+++ b/reactos/subsys/system/explorer/taskbar/traynotify.cpp
@@ -660,10 +660,12 @@ void NotifyArea::Paint()
 		x += NOTIFYICON_DIST;
 	}
 
+#ifndef _NO_ALPHABLEND
 	MemCanvas mem_dc;
 	SelectedBitmap bmp(mem_dc, CreateCompatibleBitmap(canvas, NOTIFYICON_SIZE, NOTIFYICON_SIZE));
 	RECT rect = {0, 0, NOTIFYICON_SIZE, NOTIFYICON_SIZE};
 	BLENDFUNCTION blend = {AC_SRC_OVER, 0, 128, 0};	// 50 % visible
+#endif
 
 	for(NotifyIconSet::const_iterator it=_sorted_icons.begin(); it!=_sorted_icons.end(); ++it) {
 #ifndef _NO_ALPHABLEND