diff --git a/config/gen/platform/win32/begin.c b/config/gen/platform/win32/begin.c
index 0b0948c..874744a 100644
--- a/config/gen/platform/win32/begin.c
+++ b/config/gen/platform/win32/begin.c
@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@
 
 #include <windows.h>
 
+#if defined __MINGW32__
+
+#include <w32api.h>
+#if WINVER < Windows2000
+    #error  Minimum requirement for Parrot on Windows is Windows 2000 - might want to check windef.h
+#endif
+
+#endif
+
 /*
  * Local variables:
  *   c-file-style: "parrot"