diff --git a/tests/misc/tparseopt.nim b/tests/misc/tparseopt.nim
index d8824e5220295..7d5071c3ec079 100644
--- a/tests/misc/tparseopt.nim
+++ b/tests/misc/tparseopt.nim
@@ -121,7 +121,10 @@ else:
 
   block: # fix #9842
     let exe = buildDir / "D20190112T145450".addFileExt(ExeExt)
-    defer: removeFile exe
+    defer:
+      when not defined(windows):
+        # workaround #10359 ; innocuous to skip since we're saving under `buildDir`
+        removeFile exe
     let args = @["a1b", "a2 b", "", "a4\"b", "a5'b", r"a6\b", "a7\'b"]
     let cmd = "$# c -r --verbosity:0 -o:$# -d:testament_tparseopt $# $#" %
       [getCurrentCompilerExe(), exe, currentSourcePath(),