diff --git a/lib/auth/webauthncli/platform_other.go b/lib/auth/webauthncli/platform_other.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..62df791131543
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/auth/webauthncli/platform_other.go
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+// Copyright 2021 Gravitational, Inc
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+//go:build !windows
+// +build !windows
+
+package webauthncli
+
+// HasPlatformSupport returns true if the platform supports client-side
+// WebAuthn-compatible logins.
+func HasPlatformSupport() bool {
+	return true
+}
diff --git a/lib/auth/webauthncli/platform_windows.go b/lib/auth/webauthncli/platform_windows.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..9733d74f3b187
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/auth/webauthncli/platform_windows.go
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+// Copyright 2021 Gravitational, Inc
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+package webauthncli
+
+// HasPlatformSupport returns true if the platform supports client-side
+// WebAuthn-compatible logins.
+func HasPlatformSupport() bool {
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/lib/client/mfa.go b/lib/client/mfa.go
index 4fb082be8fa2f..e0de94f934944 100644
--- a/lib/client/mfa.go
+++ b/lib/client/mfa.go
@@ -57,6 +57,16 @@ func PromptMFAChallenge(ctx context.Context, proxyAddr string, c *proto.MFAAuthe
 	// either Webauthn (preferred) or U2F.
 	hasTOTP := c.TOTP != nil
 	hasNonTOTP := len(c.U2F) > 0 || c.WebauthnChallenge != nil
+
+	// Does the current platform support hardware MFA? Adjust accordingly.
+	switch {
+	case !hasTOTP && !wancli.HasPlatformSupport():
+		return nil, trace.BadParameter("hardware device MFA not supported by your platform, please register an OTP device")
+	case !wancli.HasPlatformSupport():
+		// Do not prompt for hardware devices, it won't work.
+		hasNonTOTP = false
+	}
+
 	var numGoroutines int
 	if hasTOTP && hasNonTOTP {
 		numGoroutines = 2