diff --git a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
index 68d4c5a74..87e3d7839 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/compilers/compilers.py
@@ -699,6 +699,9 @@ class Compiler:
     def get_default_suffix(self):
         return self.default_suffix
 
+    def get_define(self, dname, prefix, env, extra_args, dependencies):
+        raise EnvironmentException('%s does not support get_define ' % self.get_id())
+
     def get_exelist(self):
         return self.exelist[:]
 
diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
index 5888ef44d..3de58bd20 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
@@ -1234,10 +1234,7 @@ class CompilerHolder(InterpreterObject):
             raise InterpreterException('Prefix argument of get_define() must be a string.')
         extra_args = self.determine_args(kwargs)
         deps = self.determine_dependencies(kwargs)
-        if hasattr(self.compiler, 'get_define'):
-            value = self.compiler.get_define(element, prefix, self.environment, extra_args, deps)
-        else:
-            raise InterpreterException('get_define is not supported for compiler ' + self.compiler.language)
+        value = self.compiler.get_define(element, prefix, self.environment, extra_args, deps)
         mlog.log('Fetching value of define "%s": %s' % (element, value))
         return value