diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 8e211f2e25..e40bc5c1c4 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -291,7 +291,11 @@ if(WIN32)
 	if(ENABLE_INET_PTON)
 		set(CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES ws2_32)
 		check_function_exists(inet_pton HAVE_INET_PTON)
-		add_definitions(-D_WIN32_WINNT=0x0600)
+		check_c_source_compiles("#include <windows.h>\n#if !defined(_WIN32_WINNT) || _WIN32_WINNT < 0x0600\n#error NOPE\n#endif\nint main(void) {return 0;}" AT_LEAST_VISTA)
+		if(NOT AT_LEAST_VISTA)
+			# force targeting Vista
+			add_definitions(-D_WIN32_WINNT=0x0600)
+		endif()
 	else()
 		add_definitions(-D_WIN32_WINNT=0x0501)
 	endif()