diff --git a/cue.py b/cue.py
index 40ba7c6..0f03bad 100644
--- a/cue.py
+++ b/cue.py
@@ -452,7 +452,9 @@ def call_make(args=None, **kws):
         makeargs = []
     else:
         makeargs = ['-j{0}'.format(parallel)]
-        if not is_make3:
+        if not is_make3 and ci['os'] != 'windows':
+            # not available until make 3
+            # buggy on windows https://github.com/epics-base/ci-scripts/issues/84
             makeargs += ['-Otarget']
     if silent:
         makeargs += ['-s']