diff --git a/tools/release/windows-build.cmd b/tools/release/windows-build.cmd
index 982f10b..98a6b8d 100644
--- a/tools/release/windows-build.cmd
+++ b/tools/release/windows-build.cmd
@@ -42,8 +42,18 @@ if errorlevel 1 (
   exit /b 1
 )
 
-rem Prevent Git Bash from converting/corrupting %LIB% and semicolon paths.
+rem Prevent Git Bash from converting/corrupting the MSVC environment.
+rem MSYS2_ARG_CONV_EXCL protects command-line ARGUMENTS; the actual
+rem kernel32.lib LNK1104 is caused by MSYS rewriting the %LIB% ENVIRONMENT
+rem variable (backslashes + semicolons), which requires MSYS2_ENV_CONV_EXCL.
 set "MSYS2_ARG_CONV_EXCL=*"
+set "MSYS2_ENV_CONV_EXCL=*"
+
+if "%LIB%"=="" (
+  echo [WARN] LIB is empty after vcvarsall - try a different WINSDK
+  echo        e.g.  set WINSDK=10.0.22621.0
+)
+echo       LIB=%LIB%
 
 rem Convert the repo path to forward slashes for Git Bash (%~dp0 is
 rem tools\release\ with a trailing backslash; ..\.. reaches the repo root).