diff --git a/configure b/configure
index 9ce2cfa..f24e3ab 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -101,13 +101,20 @@ sub def_platform {
         param_set("x11", 1);
     }
     if($target eq "Windows") {
-        use Win32;
-        my ( $osvername, $major, $minor, $id ) = Win32::GetOSVersion();
+        if ($^O eq "Win32")
+        {
+            require Win32;
+            Win32->import();
+            my ( $osvername, $major, $minor, $id ) = Win32::GetOSVersion();
 
-        if($major >= 10) {
-            param_set("directwrite", 1);
+            if($major >= 10) {
+                param_set("directwrite", 1);
+            } else {
+                param_set("directwrite", 0);
+            }
         } else {
-            param_set("directwrite", 0);
+            # assume cross compiling
+            param_set("directwrite", 1);
         }
     } else {
         param_set("directwrite", 0);