diff --git a/compat/win32/exit-process.h b/compat/win32/exit-process.h
index 7ff776b8bc..88e3bbc83c 100644
--- a/compat/win32/exit-process.h
+++ b/compat/win32/exit-process.h
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ static int exit_process(HANDLE process, int exit_code)
 		HANDLE thread = NULL;
 
 		if (!initialized) {
-			HINSTANCE kernel32 = GetModuleHandle("kernel32");
+			HINSTANCE kernel32 = GetModuleHandleA("kernel32");
 			if (!kernel32)
 				die("BUG: cannot find kernel32");
 			exit_process_address = (LPTHREAD_START_ROUTINE)