diff --git a/Lib/platform.py b/Lib/platform.py
index 01821803535..27ea1b490fa 100755
--- a/Lib/platform.py
+++ b/Lib/platform.py
@@ -940,6 +940,9 @@ def _syscmd_file(target,default=''):
         case the command should fail.
 
     """
+    if sys.platform in ('dos','win32','win16','os2'):
+        # XXX Others too ?
+        return default
     target = _follow_symlinks(target)
     try:
         f = os.popen('file %s 2> /dev/null' % target)