diff --git a/vlib/v/builder/c.v b/vlib/v/builder/c.v
index e80ab4070a..3368ad6949 100644
--- a/vlib/v/builder/c.v
+++ b/vlib/v/builder/c.v
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ pub fn (mut b Builder) build_c(v_files []string, out_file string) {
 }
 
 pub fn (mut b Builder) compile_c() {
-	if os.user_os() != 'windows' && b.pref.ccompiler == 'msvc' {
+	if os.user_os() != 'windows' && b.pref.ccompiler == 'msvc' && !b.pref.out_name.ends_with('.c') {
 		verror('Cannot build with msvc on $os.user_os()')
 	}
 	// cgen.genln('// Generated by V')
diff --git a/vlib/v/builder/msvc.v b/vlib/v/builder/msvc.v
index 3c00a11bd2..e41ad03519 100644
--- a/vlib/v/builder/msvc.v
+++ b/vlib/v/builder/msvc.v
@@ -181,7 +181,12 @@ fn find_msvc() ?MsvcResult {
 			valid: true
 		}
 	} $else {
-		return error('msvc not found')
+		// This hack allows to at least see the generated .c file with `-os windows -cc msvc -o x.c`
+		// Please do not remove it, unless you also check that the above continues to work.
+		return MsvcResult{
+			full_cl_exe_path: '/usr/bin/true'
+			valid: true
+		}
 	}
 }