diff --git a/scripts/build_release.py b/scripts/build_release.py
index f76f6bf27..e18dfab57 100755
--- a/scripts/build_release.py
+++ b/scripts/build_release.py
@@ -140,6 +140,14 @@ def main():
     args = parser.parse_args()
     utils.change_cwd()
     if os.name == 'nt':
+        if sys.maxsize > 2**32:
+            # WORKAROUND
+            print("Due to a python/Windows bug, this script needs to be run ")
+            print("with a 32bit Python.")
+            print()
+            print("See http://bugs.python.org/issue24493 and ")
+            print("https://github.com/pypa/virtualenv/issues/774")
+            sys.exit(1)
         build_common(args)
         build_windows()
     else: