diff --git a/src/plugin.cpp b/src/plugin.cpp
index 7e7bd6e86f..07e3c60dd0 100644
--- a/src/plugin.cpp
+++ b/src/plugin.cpp
@@ -222,7 +222,9 @@ namespace LAMMPS_NS
 
     -- dso_refcounter[handle];
     if (dso_refcounter[handle] == 0) {
+#ifndef WIN32
       dlclose(handle);
+#endif
     }
   }
 }