diff --git a/lib/configure.js b/lib/configure.js
index f4820b514b..1d0b654e01 100644
--- a/lib/configure.js
+++ b/lib/configure.js
@@ -291,9 +291,16 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
         // Windows expects an absolute path
         output_dir = buildDir
       }
+      
+      var target_arch_gyp_variable = '<(target_arch)';
+      if (process.platform === 'win32' && python.toLowerCase().endsWith('.bat')) {
+        // Windows will interpret python as a batch file, so we need to escape the '<' character
+        target_arch_gyp_variable = '^^^<(target_arch)'
+      }
+      
       var nodeGypDir = path.resolve(__dirname, '..')
       var nodeLibFile = path.join(nodeDir,
-        !gyp.opts.nodedir ? '<(target_arch)' : '$(Configuration)',
+        !gyp.opts.nodedir ? target_arch_gyp_variable : '$(Configuration)',
         release.name + '.lib')
 
       argv.push('-I', addon_gypi)