diff --git a/include/wx/debug.h b/include/wx/debug.h
index 2876fa5286..c030f2abba 100644
--- a/include/wx/debug.h
+++ b/include/wx/debug.h
@@ -203,16 +203,31 @@
     #define wxCOMPILE_TIME_ASSERT(expr, msg) \
         class wxMAKE_UNIQUE_ASSERT_NAME { \
           unsigned int msg: expr; \
-          wxMAKE_UNIQUE_ASSERT_NAME(){wxUnusedVar(msg);} \
+          wxMAKE_UNIQUE_ASSERT_NAME() { wxUnusedVar(msg); } \
         }
 #else
     #define wxCOMPILE_TIME_ASSERT(expr, msg) \
         struct wxMAKE_UNIQUE_ASSERT_NAME { unsigned int msg: expr; }
 #endif
 
+/*
+   When using VC++ 6 with "Edit and Continue" on, the compiler completely
+   mishandles __LINE__ and so wxCOMPILE_TIME_ASSERT() doesn't work, provide a
+   way to make "unique" assert names by specifying a unique prefix explicitly
+ */
+#define wxMAKE_UNIQUE_ASSERT_NAME2(text) wxCONCAT(wxAssert_, text)
 
-/* for compatibility only, don't use any more, not needed */
-#define wxCOMPILE_TIME_ASSERT2(expr, msg, text) wxCOMPILE_TIME_ASSERT(expr, msg)
+#ifdef __WATCOMC__
+    /* avoid "unused symbol" warning */
+    #define wxCOMPILE_TIME_ASSERT2(expr, msg, text) \
+        class wxMAKE_UNIQUE_ASSERT_NAME2(text) { \
+          unsigned int msg: expr; \
+          wxMAKE_UNIQUE_ASSERT_NAME2(text) { wxUnusedVar(msg); } \
+        }
+#else
+    #define wxCOMPILE_TIME_ASSERT2(expr, msg, text) \
+        struct wxMAKE_UNIQUE_ASSERT_NAME2(text) { unsigned int msg: expr; }
+#endif
 
 /*  helpers for wxCOMPILE_TIME_ASSERT below, for private use only */
 #define wxMAKE_BITSIZE_MSG(type, size) type ## SmallerThan ## size ## Bits
diff --git a/include/wx/defs.h b/include/wx/defs.h
index 4e4ca874d1..76ded59ec7 100644
--- a/include/wx/defs.h
+++ b/include/wx/defs.h
@@ -473,11 +473,11 @@ typedef int wxWindowID;
 /*  appending the current line number to the given identifier to reduce the */
 /*  probability of the conflict (it may still happen if this is used in the */
 /*  headers, hence you should avoid doing it or provide unique prefixes then) */
-#ifdef __VISUALC__
+#if defined(__VISUALC__) && (__VISUALC__ >= 1300)
     /*
        __LINE__ handling is completely broken in VC++ when using "Edit and
        Continue" (/ZI option) and results in preprocessor errors if we use it
-       inside the macros. Luckily it has another standard macro which can be
+       inside the macros. Luckily VC7 has another standard macro which can be
        used like this and is even better than __LINE__ because it is globally
        unique.
      */