diff --git a/src/win/handle.c b/src/win/handle.c
index ba0af755..4f37f4c0 100644
--- a/src/win/handle.c
+++ b/src/win/handle.c
@@ -27,9 +27,15 @@
 
 
 uv_handle_type uv_guess_handle(uv_file file) {
-  HANDLE handle = (HANDLE) _get_osfhandle(file);
+  HANDLE handle;
   DWORD mode;
 
+  if (file < 0) {
+    return UV_UNKNOWN_HANDLE;
+  }
+
+  handle = (HANDLE) _get_osfhandle(file);
+
   switch (GetFileType(handle)) {
     case FILE_TYPE_CHAR:
       if (GetConsoleMode(handle, &mode)) {