diff --git a/lib/std/io.zig b/lib/std/io.zig
index 50d134b856..d878afd3ae 100644
--- a/lib/std/io.zig
+++ b/lib/std/io.zig
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ pub const default_mode: ModeOverride = if (is_async) Mode.evented else .blocking
 
 fn getStdOutHandle() os.fd_t {
     if (builtin.os.tag == .windows) {
+        if (builtin.zig_backend == .stage2_x86_64) {
+            // TODO: this is just a temporary workaround until we advance x86 backend further along.
+            return os.windows.GetStdHandle(os.windows.STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE) catch os.windows.INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;
+        }
         return os.windows.peb().ProcessParameters.hStdOutput;
     }
 
@@ -58,6 +62,10 @@ pub fn getStdOut() File {
 
 fn getStdErrHandle() os.fd_t {
     if (builtin.os.tag == .windows) {
+        if (builtin.zig_backend == .stage2_x86_64) {
+            // TODO: this is just a temporary workaround until we advance x86 backend further along.
+            return os.windows.GetStdHandle(os.windows.STD_ERROR_HANDLE) catch os.windows.INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;
+        }
         return os.windows.peb().ProcessParameters.hStdError;
     }
 
@@ -80,6 +88,10 @@ pub fn getStdErr() File {
 
 fn getStdInHandle() os.fd_t {
     if (builtin.os.tag == .windows) {
+        if (builtin.zig_backend == .stage2_x86_64) {
+            // TODO: this is just a temporary workaround until we advance x86 backend further along.
+            return os.windows.GetStdHandle(os.windows.STD_INPUT_HANDLE) catch os.windows.INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE;
+        }
         return os.windows.peb().ProcessParameters.hStdInput;
     }