diff --git a/src/pkg/exp/winfsnotify/winfsnotify_test.go b/src/pkg/exp/winfsnotify/winfsnotify_test.go
index 59ac1624a2..3f8ef504e9 100644
--- a/src/pkg/exp/winfsnotify/winfsnotify_test.go
+++ b/src/pkg/exp/winfsnotify/winfsnotify_test.go
@@ -115,7 +115,13 @@ func TestNotifyClose(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("double Close() test failed: second Close() call didn't return")
 	}
 
-	err := watcher.Watch("_test")
+	dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "wininotify")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("TempDir failed: %s", err)
+	}
+	defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
+
+	err = watcher.Watch(dir)
 	if err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("expected error on Watch() after Close(), got nil")
 	}