diff --git a/ac/initialization.m4 b/ac/initialization.m4
index 13ae298a6..8aee5efd4 100644
--- a/ac/initialization.m4
+++ b/ac/initialization.m4
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ AC_CHECK_TOOL(RANLIB, ranlib, :)
 AC_CHECK_TOOL(STRIP, strip, :)
 AC_CHECK_TOOL(AR, ar, :)
 AC_CHECK_TOOL(LD, ld, :)
-AC_CHECK_TOOL(WINDRES, windres, :)
 
 dnl Check for headers
 AC_HEADER_STDC()
diff --git a/ac/mingw.m4 b/ac/mingw.m4
index bc0d2a128..6d5c5e8ba 100644
--- a/ac/mingw.m4
+++ b/ac/mingw.m4
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ AC_CACHE_CHECK([if being compiled with mingw32],
     MINGW_GUIAPP=-mwindows
     LIBMTXCOMMONDLL=1
     EXEEXT=.exe
+
+    AC_CHECK_TOOL(WINDRES, windres, :)
   else
     LIBMTXCOMMONDLL=0
   fi