diff --git a/src/libFLAC/format.c b/src/libFLAC/format.c
index 4e35c43..736668e 100644
--- a/src/libFLAC/format.c
+++ b/src/libFLAC/format.c
@@ -28,7 +28,13 @@
 #endif
 #define min(a,b) ((a)<(b)?(a):(b))
 
+#if defined _MSC_VER || defined __MINW32__
+/* yet one more hack because of MSVC6: */
+const FLAC__byte *FLAC__VENDOR_STRING = "reference libFLAC 1.0.4_beta 20020823";
+#else
 const FLAC__byte *FLAC__VENDOR_STRING = "reference libFLAC " FLAC__VERSION_STRING " 20020823";
+#endif
+
 const FLAC__byte FLAC__STREAM_SYNC_STRING[4] = { 'f','L','a','C' };
 const unsigned FLAC__STREAM_SYNC = 0x664C6143;
 const unsigned FLAC__STREAM_SYNC_LEN = 32; /* bits */;