diff --git a/src/file_pool.cpp b/src/file_pool.cpp
index 31a7f930f..d86daadbf 100644
--- a/src/file_pool.cpp
+++ b/src/file_pool.cpp
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ namespace libtorrent
 					return boost::shared_ptr<file>();
 				}
 #ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+// file prio is supported on vista and up
+#if _WIN32_WINNT >= 0x0600
 				if (m_low_prio_io)
 				{
 					FILE_IO_PRIORITY_HINT_INFO priorityHint;
@@ -88,6 +90,7 @@ namespace libtorrent
 					result = SetFileInformationByHandle(e.file_ptr->native_handle(),
 						FileIoPriorityHintInfo, &priorityHint, sizeof(PriorityHint));
 				}
+#endif
 #endif
 				TORRENT_ASSERT(e.file_ptr->is_open());
 				e.mode = m;