diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index f2550641..9499a126 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -13,10 +13,15 @@ rootinc = include_directories('.')
 dep = []
 textui_dep = []
 need_dl_cross_link = false
+need_dl_cross_link_main = false
+dl_cross_irssi_main = []
 # The Android environment requires that all modules are linked to each other.
 # See https://github.com/android/ndk/issues/201
 if host_machine.system() == 'android'
   need_dl_cross_link = true
+elif host_machine.system() == 'cygwin'
+  need_dl_cross_link = true
+  need_dl_cross_link_main = true
 endif
 
 includedir          = get_option('includedir')
diff --git a/src/core/modules-load.c b/src/core/modules-load.c
index 11c4dd6b..f4278897 100644
--- a/src/core/modules-load.c
+++ b/src/core/modules-load.c
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ static char *module_get_name(const char *path, int *start, int *end)
 	if (name == NULL)
 		name = path;
 
-	if (strncmp(name, "lib", 3) == 0)
+	if (strncmp(name, "lib", 3) == 0 || strncmp(name, "cyg", 3) == 0)
 		name += 3;
 
 	module_name = g_strdup(name);
diff --git a/src/fe-common/irc/dcc/meson.build b/src/fe-common/irc/dcc/meson.build
index 487d1aea..5edf2477 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/irc/dcc/meson.build
+++ b/src/fe-common/irc/dcc/meson.build
@@ -17,12 +17,13 @@ libfe_irc_dcc_a = static_library('fe_irc_dcc',
     def_sysconfdir,
   ],
   dependencies : dep)
-shared_module('fe_irc_dcc',
+shared_library('fe_irc_dcc',
   name_suffix : module_suffix,
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
-  link_with : dl_cross_irc_dcc,
-  link_whole : libfe_irc_dcc_a)
+  link_with : dl_cross_irc_dcc + dl_cross_irc_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  link_whole : libfe_irc_dcc_a,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'])
 
 install_headers(
   files(
diff --git a/src/fe-common/irc/meson.build b/src/fe-common/irc/meson.build
index 9b198e24..518dfbfa 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/irc/meson.build
+++ b/src/fe-common/irc/meson.build
@@ -28,12 +28,13 @@ libfe_common_irc_a = static_library('fe_common_irc',
     def_themesdir,
   ],
   dependencies : dep)
-shared_module('fe_common_irc',
+shared_library('fe_common_irc',
   name_suffix : module_suffix,
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
-  link_with : dl_cross_irc_core,
-  link_whole : libfe_common_irc_a)
+  link_with : dl_cross_irc_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  link_whole : libfe_common_irc_a,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'])
 
 install_headers(
   files(
diff --git a/src/fe-common/irc/notifylist/meson.build b/src/fe-common/irc/notifylist/meson.build
index 0f9c4d68..cdb5168b 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/irc/notifylist/meson.build
+++ b/src/fe-common/irc/notifylist/meson.build
@@ -12,12 +12,13 @@ libfe_irc_notifylist_a = static_library('fe_irc_notifylist',
     def_sysconfdir,
   ],
   dependencies : dep)
-shared_module('fe_irc_notifylist',
+shared_library('fe_irc_notifylist',
   name_suffix : module_suffix,
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
-  link_with : dl_cross_irc_notifylist,
-  link_whole : libfe_irc_notifylist_a)
+  link_with : dl_cross_irc_notifylist + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  link_whole : libfe_irc_notifylist_a,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'])
 
 install_headers(
   files(
diff --git a/src/fe-common/meson.build b/src/fe-common/meson.build
index 05ab38a1..91a46324 100644
--- a/src/fe-common/meson.build
+++ b/src/fe-common/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,4 @@
 # this file is part of irssi
 
-subdir('core')
-foreach s : chat_modules
-  subdir(s)
-endforeach
+# intentionally empty
+
diff --git a/src/fe-none/meson.build b/src/fe-none/meson.build
index 8f6b797d..49cfe517 100644
--- a/src/fe-none/meson.build
+++ b/src/fe-none/meson.build
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 # this file is part of irssi
 
-executable('botti',
+fe_none_irssi = executable('botti',
   files(
     'irssi.c',
   ),
   include_directories : rootinc,
   implicit_include_directories : false,
   export_dynamic : true,
+  implib : true,
   link_with : [
     libconfig_a,
     libcore_a,
@@ -14,6 +15,9 @@ executable('botti',
   install : true,
   dependencies : dep
 )
+if need_dl_cross_link_main
+  dl_cross_irssi_main = [ fe_none_irssi ]
+endif
 
 # noinst_headers = files(
 #   'module.h',
diff --git a/src/fe-text/meson.build b/src/fe-text/meson.build
index 94990c82..1c885b89 100644
--- a/src/fe-text/meson.build
+++ b/src/fe-text/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # this file is part of irssi
 
-executable('irssi',
+fe_text_irssi = executable('irssi',
   files(
     #### terminfo_sources ####
     'term-terminfo.c',
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ executable('irssi',
   include_directories : rootinc,
   implicit_include_directories : false,
   export_dynamic : true,
+  implib : true,
   link_with : [
     libconfig_a,
     libcore_a,
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ executable('irssi',
   dependencies : dep
   + textui_dep
 )
+if need_dl_cross_link_main
+  dl_cross_irssi_main = [ fe_text_irssi ]
+endif
 
 install_headers(
   files(
diff --git a/src/irc/core/meson.build b/src/irc/core/meson.build
index a63ff214..94ed20a2 100644
--- a/src/irc/core/meson.build
+++ b/src/irc/core/meson.build
@@ -39,11 +39,13 @@ libirc_core_a = static_library('irc_core',
     def_sysconfdir,
   ],
   dependencies : dep)
-libirc_core_sm = shared_module('irc_core',
+libirc_core_sm = shared_library('irc_core',
   name_suffix : module_suffix,
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
-  link_whole : libirc_core_a)
+  link_whole : libirc_core_a,
+  link_with : dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'])
 
 dl_cross_irc_core = []
 if need_dl_cross_link
diff --git a/src/irc/dcc/meson.build b/src/irc/dcc/meson.build
index e5e2b0c6..3ab1bace 100644
--- a/src/irc/dcc/meson.build
+++ b/src/irc/dcc/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # this file is part of irssi
 
-libirc_dcc_sm = shared_module('irc_dcc',
+libirc_dcc_sm = shared_library('irc_dcc',
   files(
     'dcc-autoget.c',
     'dcc-chat.c',
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@ libirc_dcc_sm = shared_module('irc_dcc',
   name_suffix : module_suffix,
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
-  link_with : dl_cross_irc_core,
-  dependencies : dep)
+  link_with : dl_cross_irc_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  dependencies : dep,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'])
 
 dl_cross_irc_dcc = []
 if need_dl_cross_link
diff --git a/src/irc/flood/meson.build b/src/irc/flood/meson.build
index 0ba94282..257e5c11 100644
--- a/src/irc/flood/meson.build
+++ b/src/irc/flood/meson.build
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@ libirc_flood_a = static_library('irc_flood',
   include_directories : rootinc,
   implicit_include_directories : false,
   dependencies : dep)
-shared_module('irc_flood',
+shared_library('irc_flood',
   name_suffix : module_suffix,
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
-  link_with : dl_cross_irc_core,
-  link_whole : libirc_flood_a)
+  link_with : dl_cross_irc_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  link_whole : libirc_flood_a,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'])
 
 install_headers(
   files('module.h'),
diff --git a/src/irc/notifylist/meson.build b/src/irc/notifylist/meson.build
index 212d68e5..34517b34 100644
--- a/src/irc/notifylist/meson.build
+++ b/src/irc/notifylist/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # this file is part of irssi
 
-libirc_notifylist_sm = shared_module('irc_notifylist',
+libirc_notifylist_sm = shared_library('irc_notifylist',
   files(
     'notify-commands.c',
     'notify-ison.c',
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@ libirc_notifylist_sm = shared_module('irc_notifylist',
   name_suffix : module_suffix,
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
-  link_with : dl_cross_irc_core,
-  dependencies : dep)
+  link_with : dl_cross_irc_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  dependencies : dep,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'])
 
 dl_cross_irc_notifylist = []
 if need_dl_cross_link
diff --git a/src/irc/proxy/meson.build b/src/irc/proxy/meson.build
index 30ac90a4..4cc2b658 100644
--- a/src/irc/proxy/meson.build
+++ b/src/irc/proxy/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # this file is part of irssi
 
-shared_module('irc_proxy',
+shared_library('irc_proxy',
   files(
     'dump.c',
     'listen.c',
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ shared_module('irc_proxy',
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
   dependencies : dep,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'],
 )
 
 # noinst_headers = files(
diff --git a/src/meson.build b/src/meson.build
index dee8dc3c..cc30da1b 100644
--- a/src/meson.build
+++ b/src/meson.build
@@ -2,22 +2,23 @@
 
 subdir('lib-config')
 subdir('core')
-foreach s : chat_modules
-  subdir(s)
-endforeach
-subdir('fe-common')
-if have_perl
-  subdir('perl')
-endif
-if have_otr
-  subdir('otr')
-endif
+subdir('fe-common' / 'core')
 if want_bot
   subdir('fe-none')
 endif
 if want_textui
   subdir('fe-text')
 endif
+foreach s : chat_modules
+  subdir(s)
+  subdir('fe-common' / s)
+endforeach
+if have_perl
+  subdir('perl')
+endif
+if have_otr
+  subdir('otr')
+endif
 if want_fuzzer
   subdir('fe-fuzz')
 endif
diff --git a/src/otr/meson.build b/src/otr/meson.build
index 5b7d256f..13b564ea 100644
--- a/src/otr/meson.build
+++ b/src/otr/meson.build
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # this file is part of irssi
 
-shared_module('otr_core',
+shared_library('otr_core',
   files(
     'key.c',
     'otr-fe.c',
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ shared_module('otr_core',
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
   dependencies : dep,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'],
 )
 
 # noinst_headers = files(
diff --git a/src/perl/common/meson.build b/src/perl/common/meson.build
index 5b174399..0f3f3bb5 100644
--- a/src/perl/common/meson.build
+++ b/src/perl/common/meson.build
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-shared_module('Irssi',
+shared_library('Irssi',
   [ xsubpp.process(
     files(
       'Channel.xs',
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ shared_module('Irssi',
   include_directories : rootinc,
   implicit_include_directories : true,
   dependencies : dep + [ perl_dep ],
-  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core,
+  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'],
 )
 
 install_headers(
diff --git a/src/perl/irc/meson.build b/src/perl/irc/meson.build
index a95fd778..e033c260 100644
--- a/src/perl/irc/meson.build
+++ b/src/perl/irc/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-shared_module('Irc',
+shared_library('Irc',
   [ xsubpp.process(
     files(
       'Channel.xs',
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ shared_module('Irc',
   include_directories : rootinc,
   implicit_include_directories : true,
   dependencies : dep + [ perl_dep ],
-  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core + dl_cross_irc_dcc + dl_cross_irc_notifylist,
+  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core + dl_cross_irc_dcc + dl_cross_irc_notifylist + dl_cross_irc_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'],
 )
 
 install_headers(
diff --git a/src/perl/meson.build b/src/perl/meson.build
index f859c7c4..1c6e2fbc 100644
--- a/src/perl/meson.build
+++ b/src/perl/meson.build
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ irssi_core_pl_h = custom_target('irssi-core.pl.h',
 # required as of Meson 0.58.0
 generated_files_inc = include_directories('.')
 
-libperl_core_sm = shared_module('perl_core',
+libperl_core_sm = shared_library('perl_core',
   files(
     'perl-common.c',
     'perl-core.c',
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ libperl_core_sm = shared_module('perl_core',
   install_rpath : perl_rpath,
   build_rpath : perl_rpath,
   dependencies : dep_cflagsonly + [ perl_dep ] + dl_cross_dep,
-  override_options : ['b_asneeded=false'],
+  override_options : ['b_asneeded=false', 'b_lundef=false'],
+  link_with : dl_cross_irssi_main,
 )
 
 dl_cross_perl_core = []
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ if need_dl_cross_link
   dl_cross_perl_core += libperl_core_sm
 endif
 
-shared_module('fe_perl',
+shared_library('fe_perl',
   files(
     'module-formats.c',
     'perl-fe.c',
@@ -61,7 +62,8 @@ shared_module('fe_perl',
   install : true,
   install_dir : moduledir,
   dependencies : dep,
-  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core,
+  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'],
 )
 
 subdir('common')
diff --git a/src/perl/textui/meson.build b/src/perl/textui/meson.build
index 23c8d458..b7d769c5 100644
--- a/src/perl/textui/meson.build
+++ b/src/perl/textui/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-shared_module('TextUI',
+shared_library('TextUI',
   [ xsubpp.process(
     files(
       'Statusbar.xs',
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ shared_module('TextUI',
   include_directories : rootinc,
   implicit_include_directories : true,
   dependencies : dep + [ perl_dep ],
-  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core,
+  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'],
 )
 
 install_headers(
diff --git a/src/perl/ui/meson.build b/src/perl/ui/meson.build
index 1577dcf6..a6e5c93c 100644
--- a/src/perl/ui/meson.build
+++ b/src/perl/ui/meson.build
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-shared_module('UI',
+shared_library('UI',
   [ xsubpp.process(
     files(
       'Formats.xs',
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ shared_module('UI',
   include_directories : rootinc,
   implicit_include_directories : true,
   dependencies : dep + [ perl_dep ],
-  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core,
+  link_with : dl_cross_perl_core + dl_cross_irssi_main,
+  override_options : ['b_lundef=false'],
 )
 
 install_headers(