diff --git a/README.win32 b/README.win32
index 7e6565387e..672601988d 100644
--- a/README.win32
+++ b/README.win32
@@ -485,7 +485,8 @@ You can also control the shell that perl uses to run system() and
 backtick commands via PERL5SHELL.  See L<perlrun>.
 
 Perl does not depend on the registry, but it can look up certain default
-values if you choose to put them there.  On Perl process start Perl checks if
+values if you choose to put them there unless disabled at build time with
+USE_NO_REGISTRY.  On Perl process start Perl checks if
 C<HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Perl> and C<HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Perl>
 exist.  If the keys exists, they will be checked for remainder of the Perl
 process's run life for certain entries.  Entries in
diff --git a/iperlsys.h b/iperlsys.h
index 3aee24f7ce..86ab687fce 100644
--- a/iperlsys.h
+++ b/iperlsys.h
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ typedef char*		(*LPENVGetenv_len)(struct IPerlEnv*,
 #endif
 #ifdef WIN32
 typedef unsigned long	(*LPEnvOsID)(struct IPerlEnv*);
-typedef char*		(*LPEnvLibPath)(struct IPerlEnv*, const char*,
+typedef char*		(*LPEnvLibPath)(struct IPerlEnv*, WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(const char*)
 					STRLEN *const len);
 typedef char*		(*LPEnvSiteLibPath)(struct IPerlEnv*, const char*,
 					    STRLEN *const len);
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ struct IPerlEnvInfo
 #define PerlEnv_os_id()						\
 	(*PL_Env->pEnvOsID)(PL_Env)
 #define PerlEnv_lib_path(str, lenp)				\
-	(*PL_Env->pLibPath)(PL_Env,(str),(lenp))
+	(*PL_Env->pLibPath)(PL_Env,WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(str)(lenp))
 #define PerlEnv_sitelib_path(str, lenp)				\
 	(*PL_Env->pSiteLibPath)(PL_Env,(str),(lenp))
 #define PerlEnv_vendorlib_path(str, lenp)			\
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ struct IPerlEnvInfo
 
 #ifdef WIN32
 #define PerlEnv_os_id()			win32_os_id()
-#define PerlEnv_lib_path(str, lenp)	win32_get_privlib(str, lenp)
+#define PerlEnv_lib_path(str, lenp)	win32_get_privlib(WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(str) lenp)
 #define PerlEnv_sitelib_path(str, lenp)	win32_get_sitelib(str, lenp)
 #define PerlEnv_vendorlib_path(str, lenp)	win32_get_vendorlib(str, lenp)
 #define PerlEnv_get_child_IO(ptr)	win32_get_child_IO(ptr)
diff --git a/perl.c b/perl.c
index 7b98b382bc..69cdf8e954 100644
--- a/perl.c
+++ b/perl.c
@@ -1787,6 +1787,9 @@ S_Internals_V(pTHX_ CV *cv)
 #  ifdef USE_LOCALE_CTYPE
 			     " USE_LOCALE_CTYPE"
 #  endif
+#  ifdef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
+			     " USE_NO_REGISTRY"
+#  endif
 #  ifdef USE_PERL_ATOF
 			     " USE_PERL_ATOF"
 #  endif	       
diff --git a/pod/perldelta.pod b/pod/perldelta.pod
index 414a099d2a..f61cfd35c7 100644
--- a/pod/perldelta.pod
+++ b/pod/perldelta.pod
@@ -325,6 +325,14 @@ XXX
 
 =item *
 
+A new build option C<USE_NO_REGISTRY> has been added to the makefiles.  This
+option is off by default, meaning the default is to do Windows registry lookups.
+This option stops Perl from looking inside the registry for anything.  For what
+values are looked up in the registry see L<perlwin32>.  Internally, in C, the
+name of this option is C<WIN32_NO_REGISTRY>.
+
+=item *
+
 The behavior of Perl using C<HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Perl> and
 C<HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Perl> to lookup certain values, including
 C<%ENV> vars starting with C<PERL> has changed.  Previously, the 2 keys were
diff --git a/win32/Makefile b/win32/Makefile
index 1a66403425..787d888c2d 100644
--- a/win32/Makefile
+++ b/win32/Makefile
@@ -95,6 +95,13 @@ USE_LARGE_FILES	= define
 #
 #USE_64_BIT_INT	= define
 
+#
+# Uncomment this if you want to disable looking up values from
+# HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Perl and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Perl in
+# the Registry.
+#
+#USE_NO_REGISTRY = define
+
 #
 # uncomment exactly one of the following
 #
@@ -294,6 +301,10 @@ USE_LARGE_FILES	= undef
 USE_64_BIT_INT	= undef
 !ENDIF
 
+!IF "$(USE_NO_REGISTRY)" == ""
+USE_NO_REGISTRY	= undef
+!ENDIF
+
 !IF "$(USE_IMP_SYS)$(USE_MULTI)" == "defineundef"
 USE_MULTI	= define
 !ENDIF
@@ -314,6 +325,10 @@ BUILDOPT	= $(BUILDOPT) -DPERL_IMPLICIT_CONTEXT
 BUILDOPT	= $(BUILDOPT) -DPERL_IMPLICIT_SYS
 !ENDIF
 
+!IF "$(USE_NO_REGISTRY)" != "undef"
+BUILDOPT	= $(BUILDOPT) -DWIN32_NO_REGISTRY
+!ENDIF
+
 !IF "$(PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE)" == ""
 PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE	= x86
 !ENDIF
@@ -388,7 +403,16 @@ ARCHNAME	= $(ARCHNAME)-64int
 # All but the free version of VC++ 7.1 can load DLLs on demand.  Makes the test
 # suite run in about 10% less time.
 !IF "$(CCTYPE)" != "MSVC70FREE"
+# If no registry, advapi32 is only used for Perl_pp_getlogin/getlogin/GetUserNameA
+# which is rare to execute
+!IF "$(USE_NO_REGISTRY)" != "undef"
+DELAYLOAD	= -DELAYLOAD:ws2_32.dll -DELAYLOAD:advapi32.dll delayimp.lib
+MINIDELAYLOAD	=
+!ELSE
 DELAYLOAD	= -DELAYLOAD:ws2_32.dll delayimp.lib
+#miniperl never does any registry lookups
+MINIDELAYLOAD	= -DELAYLOAD:advapi32.dll
+!ENDIF
 !ENDIF
 
 # Visual C++ 2005 and 2008 (VC++ 8.0 and 9.0) create manifest files for EXEs and
@@ -1023,7 +1047,7 @@ $(MINIPERL) : ..\lib\buildcustomize.pl
 
 ..\lib\buildcustomize.pl : $(MINIDIR) $(MINI_OBJ) ..\write_buildcustomize.pl
 	$(LINK32) -out:$(MINIPERL) @<<
-	$(BLINK_FLAGS) $(DELAYLOAD) $(LIBFILES) $(MINI_OBJ)
+	$(BLINK_FLAGS) $(DELAYLOAD) $(MINIDELAYLOAD) $(LIBFILES) $(MINI_OBJ)
 <<
 	$(EMBED_EXE_MANI:..\lib\buildcustomize.pl=..\miniperl.exe)
 	$(MINIPERL) -I..\lib -f ..\write_buildcustomize.pl ..
diff --git a/win32/makefile.mk b/win32/makefile.mk
index 543cb93574..83850c3580 100644
--- a/win32/makefile.mk
+++ b/win32/makefile.mk
@@ -107,6 +107,13 @@ USE_LARGE_FILES	*= define
 #
 #USE_LONG_DOUBLE *=define
 
+#
+# Uncomment this if you want to disable looking up values from
+# HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Perl and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Perl in
+# the Registry.
+#
+#USE_NO_REGISTRY *=define
+
 #
 # uncomment exactly one of the following
 #
@@ -310,6 +317,7 @@ USE_IMP_SYS	*= undef
 USE_LARGE_FILES	*= undef
 USE_64_BIT_INT	*= undef
 USE_LONG_DOUBLE	*= undef
+USE_NO_REGISTRY	*= undef
 
 .IF "$(USE_IMP_SYS)" == "define"
 PERL_MALLOC	= undef
@@ -343,6 +351,10 @@ BUILDOPT	+= -DPERL_IMPLICIT_CONTEXT
 BUILDOPT	+= -DPERL_IMPLICIT_SYS
 .ENDIF
 
+.IF "$(USE_NO_REGISTRY)" != "undef"
+BUILDOPT	+= -DWIN32_NO_REGISTRY
+.ENDIF
+
 PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE *= x86
 
 .IF "$(WIN64)" == "undef"
@@ -524,7 +536,16 @@ TESTPREPGCC	= test-prep-gcc
 # All but the free version of VC++ 7.1 can load DLLs on demand.  Makes the test
 # suite run in about 10% less time.
 .IF "$(CCTYPE)" != "MSVC70FREE"
+# If no registry, advapi32 is only used for Perl_pp_getlogin/getlogin/GetUserNameA
+# which is rare to execute
+.IF "$(USE_NO_REGISTRY)" != "undef"
+DELAYLOAD	= -DELAYLOAD:ws2_32.dll -DELAYLOAD:advapi32.dll delayimp.lib
+MINIDELAYLOAD	=
+.ELSE
 DELAYLOAD	= -DELAYLOAD:ws2_32.dll delayimp.lib
+#miniperl never does any registry lookups
+MINIDELAYLOAD	= -DELAYLOAD:advapi32.dll
+.ENDIF
 .ENDIF
 
 # Visual C++ 2005 and 2008 (VC++ 8.0 and 9.0) create manifest files for EXEs and
@@ -1116,7 +1137,7 @@ $(CONFIGPM): ..\config.sh config_h.PL
 	    $(mktmp $(LKPRE) $(MINI_OBJ) $(LIBFILES) $(LKPOST))
 .ELSE
 	$(LINK32) -out:$(MINIPERL) $(BLINK_FLAGS) \
-	    @$(mktmp $(DELAYLOAD) $(LIBFILES) $(MINI_OBJ))
+	    @$(mktmp $(DELAYLOAD) $(MINIDELAYLOAD) $(LIBFILES) $(MINI_OBJ))
 	$(EMBED_EXE_MANI:s/$@/$(MINIPERL)/)
 .ENDIF
 	$(MINIPERL) -I..\lib -f ..\write_buildcustomize.pl ..
diff --git a/win32/perlhost.h b/win32/perlhost.h
index 7a0c3b39d1..ce31f6995e 100644
--- a/win32/perlhost.h
+++ b/win32/perlhost.h
@@ -514,9 +514,9 @@ PerlEnvOsId(struct IPerlEnv* piPerl)
 }
 
 char*
-PerlEnvLibPath(struct IPerlEnv* piPerl, const char *pl, STRLEN *const len)
+PerlEnvLibPath(struct IPerlEnv* piPerl, WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(const char *pl) STRLEN *const len)
 {
-    return win32_get_privlib(pl, len);
+    return win32_get_privlib(WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(pl) len);
 }
 
 char*
diff --git a/win32/win32.c b/win32/win32.c
index 466922f81e..a3e1754893 100644
--- a/win32/win32.c
+++ b/win32/win32.c
@@ -114,12 +114,17 @@ static void	my_invalid_parameter_handler(const wchar_t* expression,
 			unsigned int line, uintptr_t pReserved);
 #endif
 
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
 static char*	get_regstr_from(HKEY hkey, const char *valuename, SV **svp);
 static char*	get_regstr(const char *valuename, SV **svp);
+#endif
+
 static char*	get_emd_part(SV **prev_pathp, STRLEN *const len,
 			char *trailing, ...);
-static char*	win32_get_xlib(const char *pl, const char *xlib,
+static char*	win32_get_xlib(const char *pl,
+			WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(const char *xlib)
 			const char *libname, STRLEN *const len);
+
 static BOOL	has_shell_metachars(const char *ptr);
 static long	tokenize(const char *str, char **dest, char ***destv);
 static void	get_shell(void);
@@ -167,9 +172,11 @@ END_EXTERN_C
 
 static OSVERSIONINFO g_osver = {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, ""};
 
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
 /* initialized by Perl_win32_init/PERL_SYS_INIT */
 static HKEY HKCU_Perl_hnd;
 static HKEY HKLM_Perl_hnd;
+#endif
 
 #ifdef SET_INVALID_PARAMETER_HANDLER
 static BOOL silent_invalid_parameter_handler = FALSE;
@@ -258,6 +265,7 @@ set_w32_module_name(void)
     }
 }
 
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
 /* *svp (if non-NULL) is expected to be POK (valid allocated SvPVX(*svp)) */
 static char*
 get_regstr_from(HKEY handle, const char *valuename, SV **svp)
@@ -305,6 +313,7 @@ get_regstr(const char *valuename, SV **svp)
     }
     return str;
 }
+#endif /* ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY */
 
 /* *prev_pathp (if non-NULL) is expected to be POK (valid allocated SvPVX(sv)) */
 static char *
@@ -374,41 +383,49 @@ get_emd_part(SV **prev_pathp, STRLEN *const len, char *trailing_path, ...)
 }
 
 EXTERN_C char *
-win32_get_privlib(const char *pl, STRLEN *const len)
+win32_get_privlib(WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(const char *pl) STRLEN *const len)
 {
     char *stdlib = "lib";
-    char buffer[MAX_PATH+1];
     SV *sv = NULL;
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
+    char buffer[MAX_PATH+1];
 
     /* $stdlib = $HKCU{"lib-$]"} || $HKLM{"lib-$]"} || $HKCU{"lib"} || $HKLM{"lib"} || "";  */
     sprintf(buffer, "%s-%s", stdlib, pl);
     if (!get_regstr(buffer, &sv))
 	(void)get_regstr(stdlib, &sv);
+#endif
 
     /* $stdlib .= ";$EMD/../../lib" */
     return get_emd_part(&sv, len, stdlib, ARCHNAME, "bin", NULL);
 }
 
 static char *
-win32_get_xlib(const char *pl, const char *xlib, const char *libname,
-	       STRLEN *const len)
+win32_get_xlib(const char *pl, WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(const char *xlib)
+	       const char *libname, STRLEN *const len)
 {
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
     char regstr[40];
+#endif
     char pathstr[MAX_PATH+1];
     SV *sv1 = NULL;
     SV *sv2 = NULL;
 
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
     /* $HKCU{"$xlib-$]"} || $HKLM{"$xlib-$]"} . ---; */
     sprintf(regstr, "%s-%s", xlib, pl);
     (void)get_regstr(regstr, &sv1);
+#endif
 
     /* $xlib .=
      * ";$EMD/" . ((-d $EMD/../../../$]) ? "../../.." : "../.."). "/$libname/$]/lib";  */
     sprintf(pathstr, "%s/%s/lib", libname, pl);
     (void)get_emd_part(&sv1, NULL, pathstr, ARCHNAME, "bin", pl, NULL);
 
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
     /* $HKCU{$xlib} || $HKLM{$xlib} . ---; */
     (void)get_regstr(xlib, &sv2);
+#endif
 
     /* $xlib .=
      * ";$EMD/" . ((-d $EMD/../../../$]) ? "../../.." : "../.."). "/$libname/lib";  */
@@ -433,7 +450,7 @@ win32_get_xlib(const char *pl, const char *xlib, const char *libname,
 EXTERN_C char *
 win32_get_sitelib(const char *pl, STRLEN *const len)
 {
-    return win32_get_xlib(pl, "sitelib", "site", len);
+    return win32_get_xlib(pl, WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_("sitelib") "site", len);
 }
 
 #ifndef PERL_VENDORLIB_NAME
@@ -443,7 +460,7 @@ win32_get_sitelib(const char *pl, STRLEN *const len)
 EXTERN_C char *
 win32_get_vendorlib(const char *pl, STRLEN *const len)
 {
-    return win32_get_xlib(pl, "vendorlib", PERL_VENDORLIB_NAME, len);
+    return win32_get_xlib(pl, WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_("vendorlib") PERL_VENDORLIB_NAME, len);
 }
 
 static BOOL
@@ -1824,12 +1841,14 @@ win32_getenv(const char *name)
     	    }
     	    FreeEnvironmentStrings(envv);
 	}
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
 	else {
 	    /* last ditch: allow any environment variables that begin with 'PERL'
 	       to be obtained from the registry, if found there */
 	    if (strncmp(name, "PERL", 4) == 0)
 		(void)get_regstr(name, &curitem);
 	}
+#endif
     }
     if (curitem && SvCUR(curitem))
 	return SvPVX(curitem);
@@ -4451,6 +4470,8 @@ Perl_win32_init(int *argcp, char ***argvp)
 #endif
 
     ansify_path();
+
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
     {
 	LONG retval;
 	retval = RegOpenKeyExW(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, L"SOFTWARE\\Perl", 0, KEY_READ, &HKCU_Perl_hnd);
@@ -4462,6 +4483,7 @@ Perl_win32_init(int *argcp, char ***argvp)
 	    HKLM_Perl_hnd = NULL;
 	}
     }
+#endif
 }
 
 void
@@ -4471,11 +4493,13 @@ Perl_win32_term(void)
     OP_REFCNT_TERM;
     PERLIO_TERM;
     MALLOC_TERM;
+#ifndef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
     /* handles might be NULL, RegCloseKey then returns ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE
        but no point of checking and we can't die() at this point */
     RegCloseKey(HKLM_Perl_hnd);
     RegCloseKey(HKCU_Perl_hnd);
     /* the handles are in an undefined state until the next PERL_SYS_INIT3 */
+#endif
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/win32/win32.h b/win32/win32.h
index 3b35b6c2a4..e997651c15 100644
--- a/win32/win32.h
+++ b/win32/win32.h
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@
 /* less I/O calls during each require */
 #  define PERL_DISABLE_PMC
 
+/* unnecessery for miniperl to lookup anything from an "installed" perl */
+#  define WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
+
 /* allow minitest to work */
 #  define PERL_TEXTMODE_SCRIPTS
 #endif
@@ -206,6 +209,13 @@ struct utsname {
 #  define PERL_SOCK_SYSWRITE_IS_SEND
 #endif
 
+#ifdef WIN32_NO_REGISTRY
+/* the last _ in WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_ is like the _ in aTHX_ */
+#  define WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(x)
+#else
+#  define WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(x) x,
+#endif
+
 #define PERL_NO_FORCE_LINK		/* no need for PL_force_link_funcs */
 
 #define ENV_IS_CASELESS
@@ -394,7 +404,7 @@ DllExport HWND		win32_create_message_window(void);
 DllExport int		win32_async_check(pTHX);
 
 extern int		my_fclose(FILE *);
-extern char *		win32_get_privlib(const char *pl, STRLEN *const len);
+extern char *		win32_get_privlib(WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(const char *pl) STRLEN *const len);
 extern char *		win32_get_sitelib(const char *pl, STRLEN *const len);
 extern char *		win32_get_vendorlib(const char *pl, STRLEN *const len);
 
diff --git a/win32/wince.c b/win32/wince.c
index 1b58d40ef7..bcc66c8c12 100644
--- a/win32/wince.c
+++ b/win32/wince.c
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ get_emd_part(SV **prev_pathp, STRLEN *const len, char *trailing_path, ...)
 }
 
 char *
-win32_get_privlib(const char *pl, STRLEN *const len)
+win32_get_privlib(WIN32_NO_REGISTRY_M_(const char *pl) STRLEN *const len)
 {
     dTHX;
     char *stdlib = "lib";