diff --git a/libs/core/pxtbase.h b/libs/core/pxtbase.h
index 7e18872c..b648579f 100644
--- a/libs/core/pxtbase.h
+++ b/libs/core/pxtbase.h
@@ -7,6 +7,14 @@
 #pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wformat"
 #pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Warray-bounds"
 
+// helpful define to handle C++ differences in package
+#define PXT_MICROBIT_TAGGED_INT 1
+
+// cross version compatible way of access data field
+#ifndef PXT_BUFFER_DATA
+#define PXT_BUFFER_DATA(buffer) buffer->data
+#endif
+
 // needed for gcc6; not sure why
 #undef min
 #undef max