diff --git a/job.c b/job.c
index 81248971..194d2576 100644
--- a/job.c
+++ b/job.c
@@ -774,9 +774,12 @@ reap_children (int block, int err)
                 /* get exit data */
                 exit_code = process_exit_code (hPID);
 
-                if (werr)
-                  fprintf (stderr, "make (e=%d): %s", exit_code,
-                           map_windows32_error_to_string (exit_code));
+		/* the extra tests of exit_code are here to prevent
+		   map_windows32_error_to_string from calling 'fatal',
+		   which will then call reap_children again */
+                if (werr && exit_code > 0 && exit_code < WSABASEERR)
+		  fprintf (stderr, "make (e=%d): %s", exit_code,
+			   map_windows32_error_to_string (exit_code));
 
                 /* signal */
                 exit_sig = process_signal (hPID);