diff --git a/Doc/library/winsound.rst b/Doc/library/winsound.rst
index e72d025b99b..372f792a0f9 100644
--- a/Doc/library/winsound.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/winsound.rst
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ provided by Windows platforms.  It includes functions and several constants.
    sound to play; possible values are ``-1``, ``MB_ICONASTERISK``,
    ``MB_ICONEXCLAMATION``, ``MB_ICONHAND``, ``MB_ICONQUESTION``, and ``MB_OK``, all
    described below.  The value ``-1`` produces a "simple beep"; this is the final
-   fallback if a sound cannot be played otherwise.
+   fallback if a sound cannot be played otherwise.  If the system indicates an
+   error, :exc:`RuntimeError` is raised.
 
 
 .. data:: SND_FILENAME
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index b13db4604fa..f9abe29807b 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ Core and Builtins
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #25387: Check return value of winsound.MessageBeep.
+
 - Issue #27866: Add SSLContext.get_ciphers() method to get a list of all
   enabled ciphers.
 
diff --git a/PC/winsound.c b/PC/winsound.c
index 000ddd8475e..7e06b7bd92b 100644
--- a/PC/winsound.c
+++ b/PC/winsound.c
@@ -175,7 +175,17 @@ static PyObject *
 winsound_MessageBeep_impl(PyObject *module, int x)
 /*[clinic end generated code: output=1ad89e4d8d30a957 input=a776c8a85c9853f6]*/
 {
-    MessageBeep(x);
+    BOOL ok;
+
+    Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
+    ok = MessageBeep(x);
+    Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS
+
+    if (!ok) {
+        PyErr_SetExcFromWindowsErr(PyExc_RuntimeError, 0);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }