diff --git a/Lib/ctypes/__init__.py b/Lib/ctypes/__init__.py
index 26135ad96296ac..76d583bbe3f540 100644
--- a/Lib/ctypes/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/ctypes/__init__.py
@@ -458,7 +458,9 @@ def LoadLibrary(self, name):
 cdll = LibraryLoader(CDLL)
 pydll = LibraryLoader(PyDLL)
 
-if _os.name == "nt":
+if _os.name == "nt" and _sys.version.find('GCC') >= 0:
+    pythonapi = PyDLL("libpython%d.%d%s.dll" % (_sys.version_info[:2] + (_sys.abiflags,)), None)
+elif _os.name == "nt":
     pythonapi = PyDLL("python dll", None, _sys.dllhandle)
 elif _sys.platform == "cygwin":
     pythonapi = PyDLL("libpython%d.%d.dll" % _sys.version_info[:2])