diff --git a/src/util.h b/src/util.h
index 90a34c73..81c7116a 100644
--- a/src/util.h
+++ b/src/util.h
@@ -500,7 +500,11 @@ inline void SetThreadPriority(int nPriority)
 }
 #else
 
-#define THREAD_PRIORITY_LOWEST          PRIO_MAX
+#if defined __CYGWIN__
+    #define THREAD_PRIORITY_LOWEST          20
+#else
+    #define THREAD_PRIORITY_LOWEST          PRIO_MAX
+#endif
 #define THREAD_PRIORITY_BELOW_NORMAL    2
 #define THREAD_PRIORITY_NORMAL          0
 #define THREAD_PRIORITY_ABOVE_NORMAL    (-2)