diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 92c036aab0ac93..a5b6e813a52952 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1678,11 +1678,17 @@ version.sp version.s version.o: EXTRA_CPPFLAGS = \
 	'-DGIT_VERSION="$(GIT_VERSION)"' \
 	'-DGIT_USER_AGENT=$(GIT_USER_AGENT_CQ_SQ)'
 
+ifeq (,$(BUILT_IN_WRAPPER))
 $(BUILT_INS): git$X
 	$(QUIET_BUILT_IN)$(RM) $@ && \
 	ln $< $@ 2>/dev/null || \
 	ln -s $< $@ 2>/dev/null || \
 	cp $< $@
+else
+$(BUILT_INS): $(BUILT_IN_WRAPPER)
+	$(QUIET_BUILT_IN)$(RM) $@ && \
+	cp $< $@
+endif
 
 common-cmds.h: ./generate-cmdlist.sh command-list.txt
 
@@ -2245,6 +2251,24 @@ profile-install: profile
 profile-fast-install: profile-fast
 	$(MAKE) install
 
+ifeq (,$(BUILT_IN_WRAPPER))
+LN_OR_CP_BUILT_IN_BINDIR = \
+	test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
+	ln "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
+	ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
+	cp "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || exit;
+LN_OR_CP_BUILT_IN_EXECDIR = \
+	test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
+	ln "$$exectir/git$X" "$$exectir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
+	ln -s "git$X" "$$exectir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
+	cp "$$exectir/git$X" "$$exectir/$$p" || exit;
+else
+LN_OR_CP_BUILT_IN_BINDIR = \
+	cp "$(BUILT_IN_WRAPPER)" "$$bindir/$$p" || exit;
+LN_OR_CP_BUILT_IN_EXECDIR = \
+	cp "$(BUILT_IN_WRAPPER)" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit;
+endif
+
 install: all
 	$(INSTALL) -d -m 755 '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(bindir_SQ)'
 	$(INSTALL) -d -m 755 '$(DESTDIR_SQ)$(gitexec_instdir_SQ)'
@@ -2283,17 +2307,11 @@ endif
 	} && \
 	for p in $(filter $(install_bindir_programs),$(BUILT_INS)); do \
 		$(RM) "$$bindir/$$p" && \
-		test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
-		ln "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		ln -s "git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		cp "$$bindir/git$X" "$$bindir/$$p" || exit; \
+		$(LN_OR_CP_BUILT_IN_BINDIR) \
 	done && \
 	for p in $(BUILT_INS); do \
 		$(RM) "$$execdir/$$p" && \
-		test -z "$(NO_INSTALL_HARDLINKS)" && \
-		ln "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		ln -s "git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" 2>/dev/null || \
-		cp "$$execdir/git$X" "$$execdir/$$p" || exit; \
+		$(LN_OR_CP_BUILT_IN_EXECDIR) \
 	done && \
 	remote_curl_aliases="$(REMOTE_CURL_ALIASES)" && \
 	for p in $$remote_curl_aliases; do \
diff --git a/compat/win32/git-wrapper.c b/compat/win32/git-wrapper.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..f888064defb232
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compat/win32/git-wrapper.c
@@ -0,0 +1,498 @@
+/*
+ * git-wrapper - replace cmd\git.cmd with an executable
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2012 Pat Thoyts <patthoyts@users.sourceforge.net>
+ */
+
+#define STRICT
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#define UNICODE
+#define _UNICODE
+#include <windows.h>
+#include <shlwapi.h>
+#include <shellapi.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <wchar.h>
+
+static WCHAR msystem_bin[64];
+
+static void print_error(LPCWSTR prefix, DWORD error_number)
+{
+	LPWSTR buffer = NULL;
+	DWORD count = 0;
+
+	count = FormatMessageW(FORMAT_MESSAGE_ALLOCATE_BUFFER
+			| FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_SYSTEM
+			| FORMAT_MESSAGE_IGNORE_INSERTS,
+			NULL, error_number, LANG_NEUTRAL,
+			(LPTSTR)&buffer, 0, NULL);
+	if (count < 1)
+		count = FormatMessageW(FORMAT_MESSAGE_ALLOCATE_BUFFER
+				| FORMAT_MESSAGE_FROM_STRING
+				| FORMAT_MESSAGE_ARGUMENT_ARRAY,
+				L"Code 0x%1!08x!",
+				0, LANG_NEUTRAL, (LPTSTR)&buffer, 0,
+				(va_list*)&error_number);
+	fwprintf(stderr, L"%s: %s", prefix, buffer);
+	LocalFree((HLOCAL)buffer);
+}
+
+static void setup_environment(LPWSTR exepath, int full_path)
+{
+	WCHAR msystem[64];
+	LPWSTR path2 = NULL;
+	int len;
+
+	/* Set MSYSTEM */
+	swprintf(msystem, sizeof(msystem),
+		L"MINGW%d", (int) sizeof(void *) * 8);
+	SetEnvironmentVariable(L"MSYSTEM", msystem);
+
+	/* if not set, set PLINK_PROTOCOL to ssh */
+	if (!GetEnvironmentVariable(L"PLINK_PROTOCOL", NULL, 0))
+		SetEnvironmentVariable(L"PLINK_PROTOCOL", L"ssh");
+
+	/*
+	 * set HOME to %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH% or %USERPROFILE%
+	 * With roaming profiles: HOMEPATH is the roaming location and
+	 * USERPROFILE is the local location
+	 */
+	if (!GetEnvironmentVariable(L"HOME", NULL, 0)) {
+		LPWSTR e = NULL;
+		len = GetEnvironmentVariable(L"HOMEPATH", NULL, 0);
+		if (len) {
+			DWORD attr, drvlen = GetEnvironmentVariable(L"HOMEDRIVE", NULL, 0);
+			e = (LPWSTR)malloc(sizeof(WCHAR) * (drvlen + len));
+			drvlen = GetEnvironmentVariable(L"HOMEDRIVE", e, drvlen);
+			GetEnvironmentVariable(L"HOMEPATH", e + drvlen, len);
+			/* check if the path exists */
+			attr = GetFileAttributesW(e);
+			if (attr != INVALID_FILE_ATTRIBUTES
+					&& (attr & FILE_ATTRIBUTE_DIRECTORY))
+				SetEnvironmentVariable(L"HOME", e);
+			else
+				len = 0; /* use USERPROFILE */
+			free(e);
+		}
+
+		if (len == 0) {
+			len = GetEnvironmentVariable(L"USERPROFILE", NULL, 0);
+			if (len != 0) {
+				e = (LPWSTR)malloc(len * sizeof(WCHAR));
+				GetEnvironmentVariable(L"USERPROFILE", e, len);
+				SetEnvironmentVariable(L"HOME", e);
+				free(e);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	/* extend the PATH */
+	len = GetEnvironmentVariable(L"PATH", NULL, 0);
+	len = sizeof(WCHAR) * (len + 2 * MAX_PATH);
+	path2 = (LPWSTR)malloc(len);
+	wcscpy(path2, exepath);
+	if (!full_path)
+		PathAppend(path2, L"cmd;");
+	else {
+		PathAppend(path2, msystem_bin);
+		if (_waccess(path2, 0) != -1) {
+			/* We are in an MSys2-based setup */
+			wcscat(path2, L";");
+			wcscat(path2, exepath);
+			PathAppend(path2, L"usr\\bin;");
+		}
+		else {
+			/* Fall back to MSys1 paths */
+			wcscpy(path2, exepath);
+			PathAppend(path2, L"bin;");
+			wcscat(path2, exepath);
+			PathAppend(path2, L"mingw\\bin;");
+		}
+	}
+	GetEnvironmentVariable(L"PATH", path2 + wcslen(path2),
+				(len / sizeof(WCHAR)) - wcslen(path2));
+	SetEnvironmentVariable(L"PATH", path2);
+	free(path2);
+
+}
+
+/*
+ * Fix up the command line to call git.exe
+ * We have to be very careful about quoting here so we just
+ * trim off the first argument and replace it leaving the rest
+ * untouched.
+ */
+static LPWSTR fixup_commandline(LPWSTR exepath, LPWSTR *exep, int *wait,
+	LPWSTR prefix_args, int prefix_args_len, int is_git_command,
+	int skip_arguments)
+{
+	int wargc = 0;
+	LPWSTR cmd = NULL, cmdline = NULL;
+	LPWSTR *wargv = NULL, p = NULL;
+
+	cmdline = GetCommandLine();
+	wargv = CommandLineToArgvW(cmdline, &wargc);
+	cmd = (LPWSTR)malloc(sizeof(WCHAR) *
+		(wcslen(cmdline) + prefix_args_len + 1 + MAX_PATH));
+	if (prefix_args) {
+		if (is_git_command)
+			_swprintf(cmd, L"\"%s\\%s\" %.*s", exepath, L"git.exe",
+					prefix_args_len, prefix_args);
+		else
+			_swprintf(cmd, L"%.*s", prefix_args_len, prefix_args);
+
+	}
+	else
+		wcscpy(cmd, L"git.exe");
+
+	/* skip wargv[0], append the remaining arguments */
+	++skip_arguments;
+	if (skip_arguments < wargc) {
+		int i;
+		for (i = 0, p = cmdline; p && *p && i < skip_arguments; i++) {
+			if (i)
+				while (isspace(*p))
+					p++;
+			if (*p == L'"')
+				p++;
+			p += wcslen(wargv[i]);
+			if (*p == L'"')
+				p++;
+			while (*p && !isspace(*p))
+				p++;
+		}
+		wcscat(cmd, p);
+	}
+	LocalFree(wargv);
+
+	return cmd;
+}
+
+static int strip_prefix(LPWSTR str, int *len, LPCWSTR prefix)
+{
+	LPWSTR start = str;
+	do {
+		if (str - start > *len)
+			return 0;
+		if (!*prefix) {
+			*len -= str - start;
+			memmove(start, str,
+				sizeof(WCHAR) * (wcslen(str) + 1));
+			return 1;
+		}
+	} while (*str++ == *prefix++);
+	return 0;
+}
+
+static int configure_via_resource(LPWSTR basename, LPWSTR exepath, LPWSTR exep,
+	LPWSTR *prefix_args, int *prefix_args_len,
+	int *is_git_command, LPWSTR *working_directory, int *full_path,
+	int *skip_arguments, int *allocate_console, int *show_console)
+{
+	int id, minimal_search_path, needs_a_console, no_hide, wargc;
+	LPWSTR *wargv;
+
+#define BUFSIZE 65536
+	static WCHAR buf[BUFSIZE];
+	int len;
+
+	for (id = 0; ; id++) {
+		minimal_search_path = 0;
+		needs_a_console = 0;
+		no_hide = 0;
+		len = LoadString(NULL, id, buf, BUFSIZE);
+
+		if (!len) {
+			if (!id)
+				return 0; /* no resources found */
+
+			fwprintf(stderr, L"Need a valid command-line; "
+				L"Edit the string resources accordingly\n");
+			exit(1);
+		}
+
+		if (len >= BUFSIZE) {
+			fwprintf(stderr,
+				L"Could not read resource (too large)\n");
+			exit(1);
+		}
+
+		for (;;) {
+			if (strip_prefix(buf, &len, L"MINIMAL_PATH=1 "))
+				minimal_search_path = 1;
+			else if (strip_prefix(buf, &len, L"ALLOC_CONSOLE=1 "))
+				needs_a_console = 1;
+			else if (strip_prefix(buf, &len, L"SHOW_CONSOLE=1 "))
+				no_hide = 1;
+			else
+				break;
+		}
+
+		buf[len] = L'\0';
+
+		if (!id)
+			SetEnvironmentVariable(L"EXEPATH", exepath);
+
+		for (;;) {
+			LPWSTR atat = wcsstr(buf, L"@@"), atat2;
+			WCHAR save;
+			int env_len, delta;
+
+			if (!atat)
+				break;
+
+			atat2 = wcsstr(atat + 2, L"@@");
+			if (!atat2)
+				break;
+
+			*atat2 = L'\0';
+			env_len = GetEnvironmentVariable(atat + 2, NULL, 0);
+			delta = env_len - 1 - (atat2 + 2 - atat);
+			if (len + delta >= BUFSIZE) {
+				fwprintf(stderr,
+					L"Substituting '%s' results in too "
+					L"large a command-line\n", atat + 2);
+				exit(1);
+			}
+			if (delta)
+				memmove(atat2 + 2 + delta, atat2 + 2,
+					sizeof(WCHAR) * (len + 1
+						- (atat2 + 2 - buf)));
+			len += delta;
+			save = atat[env_len - 1];
+			GetEnvironmentVariable(atat + 2, atat, env_len);
+			atat[env_len - 1] = save;
+		}
+
+		/* parse first argument */
+		wargv = CommandLineToArgvW(buf, &wargc);
+		if (wargc < 1) {
+			fwprintf(stderr, L"Invalid command-line: '%s'\n", buf);
+			exit(1);
+		}
+		if (*wargv[0] == L'\\' ||
+				(isalpha(*wargv[0]) && wargv[0][1] == L':'))
+			wcscpy(exep, wargv[0]);
+		else {
+			wcscpy(exep, exepath);
+			PathAppend(exep, wargv[0]);
+		}
+		LocalFree(wargv);
+
+		if (_waccess(exep, 0) != -1)
+			break;
+		fwprintf(stderr,
+			L"Skipping command-line '%s'\n('%s' not found)\n",
+			buf, exep);
+	}
+
+	*prefix_args = buf;
+	*prefix_args_len = wcslen(buf);
+
+	*is_git_command = 0;
+	*working_directory = (LPWSTR) 1;
+	wargv = CommandLineToArgvW(GetCommandLine(), &wargc);
+	if (wargc > 1) {
+		if (!wcscmp(L"--no-cd", wargv[1])) {
+			*working_directory = NULL;
+			*skip_arguments = 1;
+		}
+		else if (!wcsncmp(L"--cd=", wargv[1], 5)) {
+			*working_directory = wcsdup(wargv[1] + 5);
+			*skip_arguments = 1;
+		}
+	}
+	if (minimal_search_path)
+		*full_path = 0;
+	if (needs_a_console)
+		*allocate_console = 1;
+	if (no_hide)
+		*show_console = 1;
+	LocalFree(wargv);
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
+int main(void)
+{
+	int r = 1, wait = 1, prefix_args_len = -1, needs_env_setup = 1,
+		is_git_command = 1, full_path = 1, skip_arguments = 0,
+		allocate_console = 0, show_console = 0;
+	WCHAR exepath[MAX_PATH], exe[MAX_PATH];
+	LPWSTR cmd = NULL, exep = exe, prefix_args = NULL, basename;
+	LPWSTR working_directory = NULL;
+
+	/* Determine MSys2-based Git path. */
+	swprintf(msystem_bin, sizeof(msystem_bin),
+		L"mingw%d\\bin", (int) sizeof(void *) * 8);
+
+	/* get the installation location */
+	GetModuleFileName(NULL, exepath, MAX_PATH);
+	if (!PathRemoveFileSpec(exepath)) {
+		fwprintf(stderr, L"Invalid executable path: %s\n", exepath);
+		ExitProcess(1);
+	}
+	basename = exepath + wcslen(exepath) + 1;
+	if (configure_via_resource(basename, exepath, exep,
+			&prefix_args, &prefix_args_len,
+			&is_git_command, &working_directory,
+			&full_path, &skip_arguments, &allocate_console,
+			&show_console)) {
+		/* do nothing */
+	}
+	else if (!wcsicmp(basename, L"git-gui.exe")) {
+		static WCHAR buffer[BUFSIZE];
+		allocate_console = 1;
+		if (!PathRemoveFileSpec(exepath)) {
+			fwprintf(stderr,
+				L"Invalid executable path: %s\n", exepath);
+			ExitProcess(1);
+		}
+
+		/* set the default exe module */
+		wcscpy(exe, exepath);
+		PathAppend(exe, msystem_bin);
+		PathAppend(exe, L"wish.exe");
+		if (_waccess(exe, 0) != -1)
+			swprintf(buffer, BUFSIZE,
+				L"\"%s\\%.*s\\libexec\\git-core\"",
+				exepath, wcslen(msystem_bin) - 4, msystem_bin);
+		else {
+			wcscpy(exe, exepath);
+			PathAppend(exe, L"mingw\\bin\\wish.exe");
+			swprintf(buffer, BUFSIZE,
+				L"\"%s\\mingw\\libexec\\git-core\"", exepath);
+		}
+		PathAppend(buffer, L"git-gui");
+		prefix_args = buffer;
+		prefix_args_len = wcslen(buffer);
+	}
+	else if (!wcsnicmp(basename, L"git-", 4)) {
+		needs_env_setup = 0;
+
+		/* Call a builtin */
+		prefix_args = basename + 4;
+		prefix_args_len = wcslen(prefix_args);
+		if (!wcsicmp(prefix_args + prefix_args_len - 4, L".exe"))
+			prefix_args_len -= 4;
+
+		/* set the default exe module */
+		wcscpy(exe, exepath);
+		PathAppend(exe, L"git.exe");
+	}
+	else if (!wcsicmp(basename, L"git.exe")) {
+		if (!PathRemoveFileSpec(exepath)) {
+			fwprintf(stderr,
+				L"Invalid executable path: %s\n", exepath);
+			ExitProcess(1);
+		}
+
+		/* set the default exe module */
+		wcscpy(exe, exepath);
+		PathAppend(exe, msystem_bin);
+		PathAppend(exe, L"git.exe");
+		if (_waccess(exe, 0) == -1) {
+			wcscpy(exe, exepath);
+			PathAppend(exe, L"bin\\git.exe");
+		}
+	}
+	else if (!wcsicmp(basename, L"gitk.exe")) {
+		static WCHAR buffer[BUFSIZE];
+		allocate_console = 1;
+		if (!PathRemoveFileSpec(exepath)) {
+			fwprintf(stderr,
+				L"Invalid executable path: %s\n", exepath);
+			ExitProcess(1);
+		}
+
+		/* set the default exe module */
+		wcscpy(exe, exepath);
+		swprintf(buffer, BUFSIZE, L"\"%s\"", exepath);
+		PathAppend(exe, msystem_bin);
+		PathAppend(exe, L"wish.exe");
+		if (_waccess(exe, 0) != -1)
+			PathAppend(buffer, msystem_bin);
+		else {
+			wcscpy(exe, exepath);
+			PathAppend(exe, L"mingw\\bin\\wish.exe");
+			PathAppend(buffer, L"mingw\\bin");
+		}
+		PathAppend(buffer, L"gitk");
+		prefix_args = buffer;
+		prefix_args_len = wcslen(buffer);
+	}
+
+	if (needs_env_setup)
+		setup_environment(exepath, full_path);
+	cmd = fixup_commandline(exepath, &exep, &wait,
+		prefix_args, prefix_args_len, is_git_command, skip_arguments);
+
+	if (working_directory == (LPWSTR)1) {
+		int len = GetEnvironmentVariable(L"HOME", NULL, 0);
+
+		if (len) {
+			working_directory = malloc(sizeof(WCHAR) * len);
+			GetEnvironmentVariable(L"HOME", working_directory, len);
+		}
+	}
+
+	{
+		STARTUPINFO si;
+		PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;
+		DWORD creation_flags = CREATE_UNICODE_ENVIRONMENT;
+		HANDLE console_handle;
+		BOOL br = FALSE;
+		ZeroMemory(&pi, sizeof(PROCESS_INFORMATION));
+		ZeroMemory(&si, sizeof(STARTUPINFO));
+		si.cb = sizeof(STARTUPINFO);
+
+		if (allocate_console | show_console)
+			creation_flags |= CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE;
+		else if ((console_handle = CreateFile(L"CONOUT$", GENERIC_WRITE,
+				FILE_SHARE_WRITE, NULL, OPEN_EXISTING,
+				FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL, NULL)) !=
+				INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
+			CloseHandle(console_handle);
+		else {
+#define STD_HANDLE(field, id) si.hStd##field = GetStdHandle(STD_##id); if (!si.hStd##field) si.hStd##field = INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE
+			STD_HANDLE(Input, INPUT_HANDLE);
+			STD_HANDLE(Output, OUTPUT_HANDLE);
+			STD_HANDLE(Error, ERROR_HANDLE);
+			si.dwFlags = STARTF_USESTDHANDLES;
+
+
+			creation_flags |= CREATE_NO_WINDOW;
+		}
+		if (show_console) {
+			si.dwFlags |= STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW;
+			si.wShowWindow = SW_SHOW;
+		}
+		br = CreateProcess(/* module: null means use command line */
+				exep,
+				cmd,  /* modified command line */
+				NULL, /* process handle inheritance */
+				NULL, /* thread handle inheritance */
+					/* handles inheritable? */
+				allocate_console ? FALSE : TRUE,
+				creation_flags,
+				NULL, /* environment: use parent */
+				working_directory, /* use parent's */
+				&si, &pi);
+		if (br) {
+			if (wait)
+				WaitForSingleObject(pi.hProcess, INFINITE);
+			if (!GetExitCodeProcess(pi.hProcess, (DWORD *)&r))
+				print_error(L"error reading exit code",
+					GetLastError());
+			CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
+		}
+		else {
+			print_error(L"error launching git", GetLastError());
+			r = 1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	free(cmd);
+
+	ExitProcess(r);
+}
diff --git a/config.mak.uname b/config.mak.uname
index 9e194dd7b72b1b..148d8cd8f7c47b 100644
--- a/config.mak.uname
+++ b/config.mak.uname
@@ -569,6 +569,15 @@ else
 		COMPAT_CFLAGS += -D__USE_MINGW_ANSI_STDIO
 		NO_CURL = YesPlease
 	endif
+	OTHER_PROGRAMS += git-wrapper$(X)
+	BUILT_IN_WRAPPER = git-wrapper$(X)
+
+git-wrapper$(X): compat/win32/git-wrapper.o git.res
+	$(QUIET_LINK)$(CC) -Wall -s -o $@ $^ -lshell32 -lshlwapi
+
+compat/win32/git-wrapper.o: %.o: %.c
+	$(QUIET_CC)$(CC) -o $*.o -c -Wall -Wwrite-strings $<
+
 endif
 endif
 ifeq ($(uname_S),QNX)