diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 845da73bf..2c7804643 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -1591,7 +1591,12 @@ if not HELP_REQUESTED:
 
     # export env so it is available in build.py files
     Export('env')
+    
+    plugin_base = env.Clone()
+    plugin_base.Append(CXXFLAGS='-fvisibility=hidden')
+    plugin_base.Append(CXXFLAGS='-fvisibility-inlines-hidden')
 
+    Export('plugin_base')
 
     # clear the '_CPPDEFFLAGS' variable
     # for unknown reasons this variable puts -DNone
diff --git a/plugins/input/csv/build.py b/plugins/input/csv/build.py
index 193300ea3..2d5f02e89 100644
--- a/plugins/input/csv/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/csv/build.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 
 import os
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 PLUGIN_NAME = 'csv'
 
 install_dest = env['MAPNIK_INPUT_PLUGINS_DEST']
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 plugin_sources = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/gdal/build.py b/plugins/input/gdal/build.py
index 491c26d55..cdf8fe69e 100644
--- a/plugins/input/gdal/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/gdal/build.py
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 #
 # $Id$
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 gdal_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/geos/build.py b/plugins/input/geos/build.py
index 490b5b69a..d923a7c98 100644
--- a/plugins/input/geos/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/geos/build.py
@@ -20,11 +20,12 @@
 # $Id$
 
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 geos_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/kismet/build.py b/plugins/input/kismet/build.py
index 111a4beeb..4411b93a3 100644
--- a/plugins/input/kismet/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/kismet/build.py
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 #
 # $Id$
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 kismet_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/occi/build.py b/plugins/input/occi/build.py
index b2c5f6c15..8a9da396c 100644
--- a/plugins/input/occi/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/occi/build.py
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 #
 # $Id$
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 occi_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/ogr/build.py b/plugins/input/ogr/build.py
index 4b3225737..0c5993e87 100644
--- a/plugins/input/ogr/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/ogr/build.py
@@ -20,11 +20,12 @@
 # $Id$
 
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 ogr_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/osm/build.py b/plugins/input/osm/build.py
index 5fafc4d4e..cf712409e 100644
--- a/plugins/input/osm/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/osm/build.py
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 #
 # $Id$
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 osm_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/postgis/build.py b/plugins/input/postgis/build.py
index 5694fe1f0..cd948dcce 100644
--- a/plugins/input/postgis/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/postgis/build.py
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 #
 # $Id$
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 postgis_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/raster/build.py b/plugins/input/raster/build.py
index 270509f40..232890bfb 100644
--- a/plugins/input/raster/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/raster/build.py
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 #
 # $Id$
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 raster_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/rasterlite/build.py b/plugins/input/rasterlite/build.py
index 1046fa985..bbaba934f 100644
--- a/plugins/input/rasterlite/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/rasterlite/build.py
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 #
 # $Id$
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 rasterlite_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/shape/build.py b/plugins/input/shape/build.py
index 3970cef4a..78f46a9f3 100644
--- a/plugins/input/shape/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/shape/build.py
@@ -20,11 +20,12 @@
 # $Id$
 
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 shape_src = Split(
   """
diff --git a/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py b/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py
index 41a701c80..7753d16c5 100644
--- a/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py
+++ b/plugins/input/sqlite/build.py
@@ -19,11 +19,12 @@
 #
 # $Id$
 
+Import ('plugin_base')
 Import ('env')
 
 prefix = env['PREFIX']
 
-plugin_env = env.Clone()
+plugin_env = plugin_base.Clone()
 
 sqlite_src = Split(
   """