diff --git a/metadata-generator/build-step-metadata-generator.py b/metadata-generator/build-step-metadata-generator.py
index ef80977e..ede0531f 100755
--- a/metadata-generator/build-step-metadata-generator.py
+++ b/metadata-generator/build-step-metadata-generator.py
@@ -144,6 +144,10 @@ def generate_metadata(arch):
                              deployment_target_flag_name + "=" + deployment_target])
     else:
       generator_call.extend(["-target", "{}-{}-{}{}".format(arch, llvm_target_triple_vendor, llvm_target_triple_os_version, llvm_target_triple_suffix)])
+      # since iPhoneOS 17.4 sdk TARGET_OS_IPHONE is not defined for non-simulator builds
+      # this seems to be a bug on Apple's side
+      if effective_platform_name == "-iphoneos" and not llvm_target_triple_suffix:
+        generator_call.extend(["-DTARGET_OS_IPHONE=1"])
 
     generator_call.extend(header_search_paths_parsed)  # HEADER_SEARCH_PATHS
     generator_call.extend(framework_search_paths_parsed)  # FRAMEWORK_SEARCH_PATHS