diff --git a/sys/windows/Makefile.mingw32 b/sys/windows/Makefile.mingw32
index 6533e90d7..9ae38be95 100644
--- a/sys/windows/Makefile.mingw32
+++ b/sys/windows/Makefile.mingw32
@@ -203,6 +203,11 @@ ifdef CI_COMPILER
 cc = i686-w64-mingw32-gcc.exe
 ld = i686-w64-mingw32-gcc.exe
 rc = windres --target=pe-i386
+# the mingw version on our CI is missing
+# windef.h. This will cause the Makefile.mingw32
+# to put a temporary copy into one of our folders
+# that windres is already looking in.
+MISSING_HEADER = Y
 else
 cc = gcc -c
 ld = gcc
@@ -211,6 +216,7 @@ rc = windres --target=pe-i386
 else # MINGW64
 rc = windres --target=pe-x86-64
 endif
+MISSING_HEADER = N
 endif
 
 #
@@ -730,7 +736,22 @@ $(ONH)/%.o: $(WCURSES)/%.c $(NHLUAH) | $(ONH)
 	$(cc) $(CFLAGSNH) $(PDCINCL) $< -o$@
 
 $(NHRES): $(MSWIN)/NetHack.rc $(MSWIN)/NetHack.ico | $(ONH)
+ifeq "$(MISSING_HEADER)" "Y"
+	echo '/**' > $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+	echo ' * This file has no copyright assigned and is placed in the Public Domain.' >> $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+	echo ' * This file is part of the mingw-w64 runtime package.' >> $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+	echo ' * No warranty is given; refer to the file DISCLAIMER.PD within this package.' >> $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+	echo ' */' >> $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+	echo '#include <winresrc.h>' >> $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+	echo '#ifdef IDC_STATIC' >> $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+	echo '#undef IDC_STATIC' >> $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+	echo '#endif' >> $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+	echo '#define IDC_STATIC (-1)' >> $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+endif
 	$(rc) --include-dir=$(MSWIN) --input=$< -o$@
+ifeq "$(MISSING_HEADER)" "Y"
+	@-rm -f $(MSWIN)/winres.h
+endif
 
 $(ONH):
 	@mkdir -p $@