diff --git a/pkg/urbit/daemon/main.c b/pkg/urbit/daemon/main.c
index 13bd0dbb28..7727b5d740 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/daemon/main.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/daemon/main.c
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ _cw_usage(c3_c* s)
     "  %s queu <pier> <at-event>    cue state:\n"
     "\n  run as a 'serf':\n"
     "    %s serf <pier> <key> <flags> <cache-size> <at-event>"
-#ifdef U3_OS_mingw
+#if defined(U3_OS_mingw) && defined(U3_INTERRUPT_EVENT)
     " <ctrlc-handle>"
 #endif
     "\n",
@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ _cw_serf_commence(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
   c3_i inn_i, out_i;
   _cw_serf_stdio(&inn_i, &out_i);
 
-  #if defined(U3_OS_mingw)
+#if defined(U3_OS_mingw) && defined(U3_INTERRUPT_EVENT)
   c3_assert( 8 == argc );
 
   //  Initialize serf's end of Ctrl-C handling
@@ -861,9 +861,9 @@ _cw_serf_commence(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
       fprintf(stderr, "serf: Ctrl-C event: RegisterWaitForSingleObject(%u) failed (%d)\r\n", h, GetLastError());
     }
   }
-  #else
+#else
   c3_assert( 7 == argc );
-  #endif
+#endif
 
   uv_loop_t* lup_u = uv_default_loop();
   c3_c*      dir_c = argv[2];
@@ -1335,7 +1335,7 @@ main(c3_i   argc,
       }
     }
 
-    #if defined(U3_OS_mingw)
+#if defined(U3_OS_mingw) && defined(U3_INTERRUPT_EVENT)
     //  Initialize event used to transmit Ctrl-C to worker process
     //
     {
@@ -1345,7 +1345,7 @@ main(c3_i   argc,
         exit(1);
       }
     }
-    #endif
+#endif
 
     //  starting u3m configures OpenSSL memory functions, so we must do it
     //  before any OpenSSL allocations
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c
index 88190017b0..3fb187aa0f 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/king.c
@@ -603,9 +603,9 @@ _king_sign_cb(uv_signal_t* sil_u, c3_i num_i)
       u3l_log("\r\ninterrupt\r\n");
       u3_term_ef_ctlc();
 
-      #if defined(U3_OS_mingw)
+#if defined(U3_OS_mingw) && defined(U3_INTERRUPT_EVENT)
       PulseEvent(u3_Host.cev_u);
-      #endif
+#endif
       break;
     }
 
diff --git a/pkg/urbit/vere/lord.c b/pkg/urbit/vere/lord.c
index 3428a1ff38..961f964b36 100644
--- a/pkg/urbit/vere/lord.c
+++ b/pkg/urbit/vere/lord.c
@@ -1190,13 +1190,13 @@ u3_lord_init(c3_c* pax_c, c3_w wag_w, c3_d key_d[4], u3_lord_cb cb_u)
       arg_c[6] = "0";
     }
 
-    #if defined(U3_OS_mingw)
+#if defined(U3_OS_mingw) && defined(U3_INTERRUPT_EVENT)
     sprintf(cev_c, "%u", u3_Host.cev_u);
     arg_c[7] = cev_c;
     arg_c[8] = 0;
-    #else
+#else
     arg_c[7] = 0;
-    #endif
+#endif
 
     uv_pipe_init(u3L, &god_u->inn_u.pyp_u, 0);
     uv_timer_init(u3L, &god_u->out_u.tim_u);