diff --git a/Python/thread_nt.h b/Python/thread_nt.h
index 9d41820..5e295cb 100644
--- a/Python/thread_nt.h
+++ b/Python/thread_nt.h
@@ -161,11 +161,7 @@
  */
 int PyThread_start_new_thread(void (*func)(void *), void *arg)
 {
-#if _MSC_VER >= 1200
-	INT_PTR rv;
-#else
-	unsigned long rv;
-#endif
+	uintptr_t rv;
 	int success = 0;
 
 	dprintf(("%ld: PyThread_start_new_thread called\n", PyThread_get_thread_ident()));