diff --git a/src/thread/windows/SDL_syssem.c b/src/thread/windows/SDL_syssem.c
index 45497fc4a..753d42942 100644
--- a/src/thread/windows/SDL_syssem.c
+++ b/src/thread/windows/SDL_syssem.c
@@ -66,6 +66,16 @@ static SDL_sem_impl_t SDL_sem_impl_active = {0};
  * Atomic + WaitOnAddress implementation
  */
 
+/* APIs not available on WinPhone 8.1 */
+/* https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=47328 */
+
+#if (HAVE_WINAPIFAMILY_H) && defined(WINAPI_FAMILY_PHONE_APP)
+#define SDL_WINAPI_FAMILY_PHONE (WINAPI_FAMILY==WINAPI_FAMILY_PHONE_APP)
+#else
+#define SDL_WINAPI_FAMILY_PHONE 0
+#endif
+
+#if !SDL_WINAPI_FAMILY_PHONE
 #if __WINRT__
 /* Functions are guaranteed to be available */
 #define pWaitOnAddress WaitOnAddress
@@ -241,6 +251,7 @@ static const SDL_sem_impl_t SDL_sem_impl_atom =
     &SDL_SemValue_atom,
     &SDL_SemPost_atom,
 };
+#endif /* !SDL_WINAPI_FAMILY_PHONE */
 
 
 /**
@@ -392,6 +403,7 @@ SDL_CreateSemaphore(Uint32 initial_value)
         /* Default to fallback implementation */
         const SDL_sem_impl_t * impl = &SDL_sem_impl_kern;
 
+#if !SDL_WINAPI_FAMILY_PHONE
         if (!SDL_GetHintBoolean(SDL_HINT_WINDOWS_FORCE_SEMAPHORE_KERNEL, SDL_FALSE)) {
 #if __WINRT__
             /* Link statically on this platform */
@@ -415,6 +427,7 @@ SDL_CreateSemaphore(Uint32 initial_value)
             }
 #endif
         }
+#endif
 
         /* Copy instead of using pointer to save one level of indirection */
         SDL_memcpy(&SDL_sem_impl_active, impl, sizeof(SDL_sem_impl_active));