diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index d8c1872aa..315326e46 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -167,7 +167,9 @@ def get_extension_modules():
     ext_options = {
         "include_dirs": include_dirs,
         "library_dirs": library_dirs,
-        "runtime_library_dirs": library_dirs if os.name != "nt" else None,
+        "runtime_library_dirs": (
+            library_dirs if os.name != "nt" and sys.platform != "cygwin" else None
+        ),
         "libraries": get_libraries(library_dirs),
     }
     # setup cythonized modules