diff --git a/src/fixes/fix_winpaths.py b/src/fixes/fix_winpaths.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc5cbe0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/fixes/fix_winpaths.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+import ctypes
+import winpaths
+from ctypes import wintypes
+
+def _get_path_buf(csidl):
+	path_buf = ctypes.create_unicode_buffer(wintypes.MAX_PATH)
+	result = winpaths._SHGetFolderPath(0, csidl, 0, 0, path_buf)
+	return path_buf.value
+
+def fix():
+	winpaths._get_path_buf = _get_path_buf
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main.py b/src/main.py
index b14288c..b6299ee 100644
--- a/src/main.py
+++ b/src/main.py
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 from __future__ import unicode_literals    # at top of module
+# this is the first fix we have to import just before the paths module would.
+# it changes a call from wintypes to ctypes.
+from fixes import fix_winpaths
+fix_winpaths.fix()
 import os
 import logging
 import storage