diff --git a/bindings/python/nanobind.BUILD b/bindings/python/nanobind.BUILD
index 2852019502..c7edfb2b93 100644
--- a/bindings/python/nanobind.BUILD
+++ b/bindings/python/nanobind.BUILD
@@ -2,18 +2,40 @@ licenses(["notice"])
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
 
-filegroup(
-    name = "symboltable",
-    srcs = ["cmake/darwin-ld-cpython.sym"],
+config_setting(
+    name = "msvc_compiler",
+    flag_values = {"@bazel_tools//tools/cpp:compiler": "msvc-cl"},
 )
 
 cc_library(
     name = "nanobind",
     srcs = glob([
-        "src/*.cpp"
+        "src/*.cpp",
     ]),
-    copts = ["-fexceptions"],
-    includes = ["include", "ext/robin_map/include"],
+    additional_linker_inputs = select({
+        "@platforms//os:macos": [":cmake/darwin-ld-cpython.sym"],
+        "//conditions:default": [],
+    }),
+    copts = select({
+        ":msvc_compiler": [
+            "/EHsc",  # exceptions
+            "/Os",  # size optimizations
+        ],
+        # these should work on both clang and gcc.
+        "//conditions:default": [
+            "-fexceptions",
+            "-flto",
+            "-Os",
+        ],
+    }),
+    includes = [
+        "ext/robin_map/include",
+        "include",
+    ],
+    linkopts = select({
+        "@platforms//os:macos": ["-Wl,@$(location :cmake/darwin-ld-cpython.sym)"],
+        "//conditions:default": [],
+    }),
     textual_hdrs = glob(
         [
             "include/**/*.h",
@@ -21,13 +43,5 @@ cc_library(
             "ext/robin_map/include/tsl/*.h",
         ],
     ),
-    linkopts = select({
-        "@platforms//os:macos": ["-Wl,@$(location :cmake/darwin-ld-cpython.sym)"],
-        "//conditions:default": [],
-    }),
-    additional_linker_inputs = select({
-        "@platforms//os:macos": [":cmake/darwin-ld-cpython.sym"],
-        "//conditions:default": [],
-    }),
     deps = ["@python_headers"],
 )