diff --git a/config.mak.uname b/config.mak.uname
index 551e465a78..6604b130f8 100644
--- a/config.mak.uname
+++ b/config.mak.uname
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ ifeq ($(uname_O),Cygwin)
 	SPARSE_FLAGS = -isystem /usr/include/w32api -Wno-one-bit-signed-bitfield
 	OBJECT_CREATION_USES_RENAMES = UnfortunatelyNeedsTo
 	COMPAT_OBJS += compat/cygwin.o
+	FREAD_READS_DIRECTORIES = UnfortunatelyYes
 endif
 ifeq ($(uname_S),FreeBSD)
 	NEEDS_LIBICONV = YesPlease