diff --git a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
index 8c52ed6ed1234..44bfc746a741f 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/link.rs
@@ -1976,9 +1976,11 @@ fn add_linked_symbol_object(
     cmd: &mut dyn Linker,
     sess: &Session,
     tmpdir: &Path,
-    symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    crate_type: CrateType,
+    linked_symbols: &[(String, SymbolExportKind)],
+    exported_symbols: &[String],
 ) {
-    if symbols.is_empty() {
+    if linked_symbols.is_empty() && exported_symbols.is_empty() {
         return;
     }
 
@@ -2015,7 +2017,7 @@ fn add_linked_symbol_object(
         None
     };
 
-    for (sym, kind) in symbols.iter() {
+    for (sym, kind) in linked_symbols.iter() {
         let symbol = file.add_symbol(object::write::Symbol {
             name: sym.clone().into(),
             value: 0,
@@ -2073,6 +2075,38 @@ fn add_linked_symbol_object(
         }
     }
 
+    if sess.target.is_like_msvc {
+        // Symbol visibility takes care of this for executables typically
+        let should_filter_symbols = if crate_type == CrateType::Executable {
+            sess.opts.unstable_opts.export_executable_symbols
+        } else {
+            true
+        };
+        if should_filter_symbols {
+            // Currently the compiler doesn't use `dllexport` (an LLVM attribute) to
+            // export symbols from a dynamic library. When building a dynamic library,
+            // however, we're going to want some symbols exported, so this adds a
+            // `.drectve` section which lists all the symbols using /EXPORT arguments.
+            //
+            // The linker will read these arguments from the `.drectve` section and
+            // export all the symbols from the dynamic library. Note that this is not
+            // as simple as just exporting all the symbols in the current crate (as
+            // specified by `codegen.reachable`) but rather we also need to possibly
+            // export the symbols of upstream crates. Upstream rlibs may be linked
+            // statically to this dynamic library, in which case they may continue to
+            // transitively be used and hence need their symbols exported.
+            let drectve = exported_symbols
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|sym| format!(" /EXPORT:\"{sym}\""))
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
+                .join("");
+
+            let section =
+                file.add_section(vec![], b".drectve".to_vec(), object::SectionKind::Linker);
+            file.append_section_data(section, drectve.as_bytes(), 1);
+        }
+    }
+
     let path = tmpdir.join("symbols.o");
     let result = std::fs::write(&path, file.write().unwrap());
     if let Err(error) = result {
@@ -2247,7 +2281,9 @@ fn linker_with_args(
         cmd,
         sess,
         tmpdir,
+        crate_type,
         &codegen_results.crate_info.linked_symbols[&crate_type],
+        &codegen_results.crate_info.exported_symbols[&crate_type],
     );
 
     // Sanitizer libraries.
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/linker.rs b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/linker.rs
index 8fc83908efbcc..eb421e7e45ec5 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/linker.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_codegen_ssa/src/back/linker.rs
@@ -1086,47 +1086,8 @@ impl<'a> Linker for MsvcLinker<'a> {
         }
     }
 
-    // Currently the compiler doesn't use `dllexport` (an LLVM attribute) to
-    // export symbols from a dynamic library. When building a dynamic library,
-    // however, we're going to want some symbols exported, so this function
-    // generates a DEF file which lists all the symbols.
-    //
-    // The linker will read this `*.def` file and export all the symbols from
-    // the dynamic library. Note that this is not as simple as just exporting
-    // all the symbols in the current crate (as specified by `codegen.reachable`)
-    // but rather we also need to possibly export the symbols of upstream
-    // crates. Upstream rlibs may be linked statically to this dynamic library,
-    // in which case they may continue to transitively be used and hence need
-    // their symbols exported.
-    fn export_symbols(&mut self, tmpdir: &Path, crate_type: CrateType, symbols: &[String]) {
-        // Symbol visibility takes care of this typically
-        if crate_type == CrateType::Executable {
-            let should_export_executable_symbols =
-                self.sess.opts.unstable_opts.export_executable_symbols;
-            if !should_export_executable_symbols {
-                return;
-            }
-        }
-
-        let path = tmpdir.join("lib.def");
-        let res: io::Result<()> = try {
-            let mut f = File::create_buffered(&path)?;
-
-            // Start off with the standard module name header and then go
-            // straight to exports.
-            writeln!(f, "LIBRARY")?;
-            writeln!(f, "EXPORTS")?;
-            for symbol in symbols {
-                debug!("  _{symbol}");
-                writeln!(f, "  {symbol}")?;
-            }
-        };
-        if let Err(error) = res {
-            self.sess.dcx().emit_fatal(errors::LibDefWriteFailure { error });
-        }
-        let mut arg = OsString::from("/DEF:");
-        arg.push(path);
-        self.link_arg(&arg);
+    fn export_symbols(&mut self, _tmpdir: &Path, _crate_type: CrateType, _symbols: &[String]) {
+        // We already add /EXPORT arguments to the .drectve section of symbols.o.
     }
 
     fn subsystem(&mut self, subsystem: &str) {
diff --git a/tests/ui/linking/dll-weak-definition.rs b/tests/ui/linking/dll-weak-definition.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..c64bd11f84796
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/ui/linking/dll-weak-definition.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+// Regression test for MSVC link.exe failing to export weak definitions from dlls.
+// See https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/pull/142568
+
+//@ build-pass
+//@ only-msvc
+//@ revisions: link_exe lld
+//@[lld] needs-rust-lld
+//@[link_exe] compile-flags: -Zunstable-options -Clink-self-contained=-linker -Zlinker-features=-lld
+//@[lld] compile-flags: -Zunstable-options -Clink-self-contained=+linker -Zlinker-features=+lld
+
+#![feature(linkage)]
+#![crate_type = "cdylib"]
+
+#[linkage = "weak"]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub fn weak_function() {}
+
+#[linkage = "weak"]
+#[no_mangle]
+pub static WEAK_STATIC: u8 = 42;