diff --git a/build/bakefiles/regex.bkl b/build/bakefiles/regex.bkl
index b93a2fc24c..ae14b52653 100644
--- a/build/bakefiles/regex.bkl
+++ b/build/bakefiles/regex.bkl
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@
         <option name="wxUSE_REGEX"/>
     </if>
     <if cond="FORMAT!='autoconf'">
-        <set var="wxUSE_REGEX">builtin</set>
+        <set var="wxUSE_REGEX">
+            <!-- NB: regex lib doesn't compile on WinCE -->
+            <if cond="FORMAT=='msevc4prj'">no</if>
+            <if cond="FORMAT!='msevc4prj'">builtin</if>
+        </set>
     </if>
     <set var="LIB_REGEX">
         <if cond="wxUSE_REGEX=='builtin'">wxregex$(WXUNICODEFLAG)$(WXDEBUGFLAG)$(HOST_SUFFIX)</if>