diff --git a/caddy.go b/caddy.go
index 401c6fc6f..1b1caf54d 100644
--- a/caddy.go
+++ b/caddy.go
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"log"
 	"net"
 	"os"
-	"os/exec"
-	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -725,24 +723,6 @@ func IsLoopback(addr string) bool {
 		strings.HasPrefix(host, "127.")
 }
 
-// checkFdlimit issues a warning if the OS limit for
-// max file descriptors is below a recommended minimum.
-func checkFdlimit() {
-	const min = 8192
-
-	// Warn if ulimit is too low for production sites
-	if runtime.GOOS == "linux" || runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
-		out, err := exec.Command("sh", "-c", "ulimit -n").Output() // use sh because ulimit isn't in Linux $PATH
-		if err == nil {
-			lim, err := strconv.Atoi(string(bytes.TrimSpace(out)))
-			if err == nil && lim < min {
-				fmt.Printf("WARNING: File descriptor limit %d is too low for production servers. "+
-					"At least %d is recommended. Fix with \"ulimit -n %d\".\n", lim, min, min)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // Upgrade re-launches the process, preserving the listeners
 // for a graceful restart. It does NOT load new configuration;
 // it only starts the process anew with a fresh binary.
diff --git a/rlimit_posix.go b/rlimit_posix.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e63987767
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rlimit_posix.go
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+// +build !windows
+
+package caddy
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"syscall"
+)
+
+// checkFdlimit issues a warning if the OS limit for
+// max file descriptors is below a recommended minimum.
+func checkFdlimit() {
+	const min = 8192
+
+	// Warn if ulimit is too low for production sites
+	rlimit := &syscall.Rlimit{}
+	err := syscall.Getrlimit(syscall.RLIMIT_NOFILE, rlimit)
+	if err == nil && rlimit.Cur < min {
+		fmt.Printf("WARNING: File descriptor limit %d is too low for production servers. "+
+			"At least %d is recommended. Fix with \"ulimit -n %d\".\n", rlimit.Cur, min, min)
+	}
+
+}
diff --git a/rlimit_windows.go b/rlimit_windows.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0288102f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rlimit_windows.go
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+package caddy
+
+// checkFdlimit issues a warning if the OS limit for
+// max file descriptors is below a recommended minimum.
+func checkFdlimit() {
+}