diff --git a/basis/io/files/windows/windows.factor b/basis/io/files/windows/windows.factor
index 9b75626c2c..d65818f202 100644
--- a/basis/io/files/windows/windows.factor
+++ b/basis/io/files/windows/windows.factor
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ M: windows home
     WIN32_FIND_STREAM_DATA <struct>
     0
     [ FindFirstStream ] keepd
-    over INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE = [
+    over -1 <alien> = [
         2drop throw-win32-error
     ] [
         1vector swap file-streams-rest