diff --git a/test/functions.source b/test/functions.source
index ed9b73c4..afc694f8 100644
--- a/test/functions.source
+++ b/test/functions.source
@@ -440,7 +440,10 @@ startHttpServer() {
     
     # PLATFORM = the scripting host (eg mingw)
     # host     = the build host (eg windows for msvc)
-    host=$(runTest exiv2 -vVg platform | tail -1 | cut -d= -f 2) # windows
+    host=$PLATFORM
+    if [ $PLATFORM == 'cygwin' -o $PLATFORM == 'mingw' ]; then
+        host=$(runTest exiv2 -vVg platform | tail -1 | cut -d= -f 2) # windows
+    fi
     if [ "$host" != windows ]; then host="$PLATFORM" ; fi
 
     if    [ "$host" == "cygwin" ]; then dport=12762