diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-sdl3.yml b/.github/workflows/build-sdl3.yml
index 403141b51a..058ca74ab7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-sdl3.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-sdl3.yml
@@ -87,6 +87,11 @@ jobs:
     - name: Build with SDL3
       run: python3 dev.py build --sdl3
 
+    # eventually we need to run all tests, but for now test that importing pygame
+    # works
+    - name: Test import works
+      run: python3 -c 'import pygame'
+
     # - name: Run tests
     #   env:
     #     SDL_VIDEODRIVER: "dummy"
diff --git a/src_c/_pygame.h b/src_c/_pygame.h
index 46fe2d966d..07f236149a 100644
--- a/src_c/_pygame.h
+++ b/src_c/_pygame.h
@@ -284,6 +284,10 @@ typedef enum {
     SDL_ACTIVEEVENT = SDL_USEREVENT,
     SDL_VIDEORESIZE,
     SDL_VIDEOEXPOSE,
+#if SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(3, 0, 0)
+    /* SDL_SYSWMEVENT removed in SDL3, define it here for compat */
+    SDL_SYSWMEVENT,
+#endif
 
     PGE_MIDIIN,
     PGE_MIDIOUT,
diff --git a/src_c/meson.build b/src_c/meson.build
index fb43a584eb..07189d6180 100644
--- a/src_c/meson.build
+++ b/src_c/meson.build
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ color = py.extension_module(
     subdir: pg,
 )
 
-# TODO: support SDL3
-if sdl_api != 3
 constants = py.extension_module(
     'constants',
     'constants.c',
@@ -28,7 +26,6 @@ constants = py.extension_module(
     install: true,
     subdir: pg,
 )
-endif
 
 # TODO: support SDL3
 if sdl_api != 3
@@ -147,7 +144,6 @@ surface = py.extension_module(
 endif
 
 # TODO: support SDL3
-if sdl_api != 3
 surflock = py.extension_module(
     'surflock',
     'surflock.c',
@@ -156,10 +152,7 @@ surflock = py.extension_module(
     install: true,
     subdir: pg,
 )
-endif
 
-# TODO: support SDL3
-if sdl_api != 3
 time = py.extension_module(
     'time',
     'time.c',
@@ -168,7 +161,6 @@ time = py.extension_module(
     install: true,
     subdir: pg,
 )
-endif
 
 # TODO: support SDL3
 if sdl_api != 3
diff --git a/src_c/surflock.c b/src_c/surflock.c
index 62cd3acdbd..0786d0fe66 100644
--- a/src_c/surflock.c
+++ b/src_c/surflock.c
@@ -99,7 +99,12 @@ pgSurface_LockBy(pgSurfaceObject *surfobj, PyObject *lockobj)
     if (surf->subsurface != NULL) {
         pgSurface_Prep(surfobj);
     }
-    if (SDL_LockSurface(surf->surf) == -1) {
+#if SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(3, 0, 0)
+    if (!SDL_LockSurface(surf->surf))
+#else
+    if (SDL_LockSurface(surf->surf) == -1)
+#endif
+    {
         PyErr_SetString(PyExc_RuntimeError, "error locking surface");
         return 0;
     }
diff --git a/src_c/time.c b/src_c/time.c
index 66dc4fc6f3..a44d859209 100644
--- a/src_c/time.c
+++ b/src_c/time.c
@@ -276,8 +276,13 @@ _pg_clear_event_timer_type(int ev_type)
 
 /* Timer callback function
  * TODO: This needs better error handling and a way to report to the user */
+#if SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(3, 0, 0)
+static Uint32
+timer_callback(void *param, SDL_TimerID timerID, Uint32 interval)
+#else
 static Uint32
 timer_callback(Uint32 interval, void *param)
+#endif
 {
     pgEventTimer *evtimer;
     PG_LOCK_TIMER_MUTEX
@@ -316,12 +321,14 @@ accurate_delay(Sint64 ticks)
     if (ticks <= 0)
         return 0;
 
+#if !SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(3, 0, 0)
     if (!SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
         if (SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
             PyErr_SetString(pgExc_SDLError, SDL_GetError());
             return -1;
         }
     }
+#endif
 
     funcstart = PG_GetTicks();
     if (ticks >= WORST_CLOCK_ACCURACY) {
@@ -342,8 +349,10 @@ accurate_delay(Sint64 ticks)
 static PyObject *
 time_get_ticks(PyObject *self, PyObject *_null)
 {
+#if !SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(3, 0, 0)
     if (!SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_TIMER))
         return PyLong_FromLong(0);
+#endif
     return PyLong_FromUnsignedLongLong(PG_GetTicks());
 }
 
@@ -371,11 +380,13 @@ time_wait(PyObject *self, PyObject *arg)
     if (!PyLong_Check(arg))
         return RAISE(PyExc_TypeError, "wait requires one integer argument");
 
+#if !SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(3, 0, 0)
     if (!SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
         if (SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
             return RAISE(pgExc_SDLError, SDL_GetError());
         }
     }
+#endif
 
     ticks = PyLong_AsLongLong(arg);
     if (ticks < 0)
@@ -455,6 +466,7 @@ time_set_timer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
         goto end;
     }
 
+#if !SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(3, 0, 0)
     /* just doublecheck that timer is initialized */
     if (!SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
         if (SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
@@ -462,6 +474,7 @@ time_set_timer(PyObject *self, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
             goto end;
         }
     }
+#endif
 
     ecode = _pg_add_event_timer(ev_type, ev_dict, loops);
     if (ecode != PG_TIMER_NO_ERROR) {
@@ -522,12 +535,14 @@ clock_tick_base(pgClockObject *self, PyObject *arg, int use_accurate_delay)
         self->rawpassed = PG_GetTicks() - self->last_tick;
         delay = endtime - self->rawpassed;
 
+#if !SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(3, 0, 0)
         /*just doublecheck that timer is initialized*/
         if (!SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
             if (SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
                 return RAISE(pgExc_SDLError, SDL_GetError());
             }
         }
+#endif
 
         if (use_accurate_delay)
             delay = accurate_delay(delay);
@@ -639,11 +654,13 @@ clock_new(PyTypeObject *type, PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
         return NULL;
     }
 
+#if !SDL_VERSION_ATLEAST(3, 0, 0)
     if (!SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
         if (SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_TIMER)) {
             return RAISE(pgExc_SDLError, SDL_GetError());
         }
     }
+#endif
 
     pgClockObject *self = (pgClockObject *)(type->tp_alloc(type, 0));
     self->fps_tick = 0;