diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index b0ece2a0e..cd990abe8 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -46,7 +46,11 @@ option(ENABLE_PROGRAMS "Build mbed TLS programs." ON)
 
 option(UNSAFE_BUILD "Allow unsafe builds. These builds ARE NOT SECURE." OFF)
 option(MBEDTLS_FATAL_WARNINGS "Compiler warnings treated as errors" ON)
-option(GEN_FILES "Generate the auto-generated files as needed" ON)
+if(WIN32)
+    option(GEN_FILES "Generate the auto-generated files as needed" OFF)
+else()
+    option(GEN_FILES "Generate the auto-generated files as needed" ON)
+endif()
 
 string(REGEX MATCH "Clang" CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_CLANG "${CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID}")
 string(REGEX MATCH "GNU" CMAKE_COMPILER_IS_GNU "${CMAKE_C_COMPILER_ID}")