diff --git a/hw/xwin/winprefs.c b/hw/xwin/winprefs.c
index dbc5b5228..6cbd7ad80 100644
--- a/hw/xwin/winprefs.c
+++ b/hw/xwin/winprefs.c
@@ -645,6 +645,7 @@ winPrefsLoadPreferences(char *path)
 
     if (path)
         prefFile = fopen(path, "r");
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
     else {
         char defaultPrefs[] =
             "MENU rmenu {\n"
@@ -656,6 +657,7 @@ winPrefsLoadPreferences(char *path)
         path = "built-in default";
         prefFile = fmemopen(defaultPrefs, strlen(defaultPrefs), "r");
     }
+#endif
 
     if (!prefFile) {
         ErrorF("LoadPreferences: %s not found\n", path);