diff --git a/include/gds-render/output-renderers/external-renderer-interfaces.h b/include/gds-render/output-renderers/external-renderer-interfaces.h
index 64a651c..bef73c2 100644
--- a/include/gds-render/output-renderers/external-renderer-interfaces.h
+++ b/include/gds-render/output-renderers/external-renderer-interfaces.h
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@
  * @{
  */
 
+/**
+ * @brief This define is used to export a function from a shared object
+ */
+#define EXPORT_FUNC __attribute__((visibility("default")))
+
 /**
  * @brief Function name expected to be found in external library for rendering.
  *
@@ -46,14 +51,15 @@
  *
  * The pure presence of this symbol name causes forking. The content of this variable is don't care.
  * @note Use this if you mess with the internal structures of gds-render
- *
  */
 #define EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_FORK_REQUEST exported_fork_request
 
 /**
- * @brief Define for declaring the exported functions
+ * @brief Define for declaring the exported functions.
+ *
+ * This not only helps with the declaration but also makes the symbols visible, so they can be called form outside the library
  */
-#define FUNC_DECL(FUNC) FUNC
+#define EXPORTED_FUNC_DECL(FUNC) EXPORT_FUNC FUNC
 
 /**
  * @brief Define for declaring exported variables
diff --git a/plugins/plugin-example/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/plugin-example/CMakeLists.txt
index 3b24aa4..949119a 100644
--- a/plugins/plugin-example/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/plugin-example/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -9,3 +9,5 @@ link_libraries(version)
 
 add_library(${PROJECT_NAME} SHARED EXCLUDE_FROM_ALL ${SOURCES})
 add_dependencies(${PROJECT_NAME} version)
+set_target_properties(${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTIES C_VISIBILITY_PRESET hidden)
+set_target_properties(${PROJECT_NAME} PROPERTIES CXX_VISIBILITY_PRESET hidden)
diff --git a/plugins/plugin-example/src/plugin-main.c b/plugins/plugin-example/src/plugin-main.c
index d6defc5..ce991e0 100644
--- a/plugins/plugin-example/src/plugin-main.c
+++ b/plugins/plugin-example/src/plugin-main.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 #include <gds-render/gds-utils/gds-types.h>
 #include <gds-render/output-renderers/external-renderer-interfaces.h>
 
-int FUNC_DECL(EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_RENDER_FUNCTION)(struct gds_cell *toplevel, GList *layer_info_list, const char *output_file_name, double scale)
+int EXPORTED_FUNC_DECL(EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_RENDER_FUNCTION)(struct gds_cell *toplevel, GList *layer_info_list, const char *output_file_name, double scale)
 {
 	if (!toplevel)
 		return -1000;
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ int FUNC_DECL(EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_RENDER_FUNCTION)(struct gds_cell *toplevel, GList
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int FUNC_DECL(EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_INIT_FUNCTION)(const char *params, const char *version)
+int EXPORTED_FUNC_DECL(EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_INIT_FUNCTION)(const char *params, const char *version)
 {
 	printf("Init with params: %s\ngds-render version: %s\n", params, version);
 	return 0;