diff --git a/cmake/ConfigureCompiler.cmake b/cmake/ConfigureCompiler.cmake
index f3cb94406f..8e40053919 100644
--- a/cmake/ConfigureCompiler.cmake
+++ b/cmake/ConfigureCompiler.cmake
@@ -44,7 +44,11 @@ set(CMAKE_REQUIRED_LIBRARIES c)
 
 
 if(WIN32)
+  # see: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/desktop/WinProg/using-the-windows-headers
+  # this sets the windows target version to Windows 7
+  set(WINDOWS_TARGET 0x0601)
   add_compile_options(/W3 /EHsc /std:c++14 /bigobj $<$<CONFIG:Release>:/Zi>)
+  add_compile_definitions(_WIN32_WINNT=${WINDOWS_TARGET} BOOST_ALL_NO_LIB)
 else()
   if(USE_GOLD_LINKER)
     set(CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS "${CMAKE_EXE_LINKER_FLAGS} -fuse-ld=gold -Wl,--disable-new-dtags")
diff --git a/flow/Platform.cpp b/flow/Platform.cpp
index 8d358229b8..27369f469b 100644
--- a/flow/Platform.cpp
+++ b/flow/Platform.cpp
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@
 #include "flow/FaultInjection.h"
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
+#include <winioctl.h>
 #define NOMINMAX
 #include <windows.h>
 #include <winioctl.h>