diff --git a/libiberty/argv.c b/libiberty/argv.c
index 3084248..b5cf71f 100644
--- a/libiberty/argv.c
+++ b/libiberty/argv.c
@@ -177,7 +177,8 @@ returned, as appropriate.
 
 */
 
-char **buildargv (const char *input)
+char **
+buildargv (const char *input)
 {
   char *arg;
   char *copybuf;
@@ -189,6 +190,15 @@ char **buildargv (const char *input)
   char **argv = NULL;
   char **nargv;
 
+/* On Windows hosts, the backslash character should not be treated
+   as an escape character.  Define a constant bs_is_escape whose value
+   is non-zero when the backslash is an escape character.  */
+#if !defined (__MINGW32__)
+  const int bs_is_escape = 1;
+#else
+  const int bs_is_escape = 0;
+#endif
+
   if (input != NULL)
     {
       copybuf = (char *) alloca (strlen (input) + 1);
@@ -234,12 +244,12 @@ char **buildargv (const char *input)
 		}
 	      else
 		{
-		  if (bsquote)
+		  if (bs_is_escape && bsquote)
 		    {
 		      bsquote = 0;
 		      *arg++ = *input;
 		    }
-		  else if (*input == '\\')
+		  else if (bs_is_escape && (*input == '\\'))
 		    {
 		      bsquote = 1;
 		    }