diff --git a/lib/configure.py b/lib/configure.py
index 8886a0e446..17a0f21599 100644
--- a/lib/configure.py
+++ b/lib/configure.py
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ def createDirectories():
 def checkTeXPaths():
     ''' Determine the path-style needed by the TeX engine on Win32 (Cygwin) '''
     windows_style_tex_paths = ''
+    if LATEX == '':
+        return windows_style_tex_paths
     if os.name == 'nt' or sys.platform == 'cygwin':
         from tempfile import mkstemp
         fd, tmpfname = mkstemp(suffix='.ltx')
@@ -991,7 +993,6 @@ Options:
         sys.exit(1)
     setEnviron()
     createDirectories()
-    windows_style_tex_paths = checkTeXPaths()
     dtl_tools = checkDTLtools()
     ## Write the first part of outfile
     writeToFile(outfile, '''# This file has been automatically generated by LyX' lib/configure.py
@@ -1007,6 +1008,7 @@ Options:
     checkConverterEntries()
     (chk_docbook, bool_docbook, docbook_cmd) = checkDocBook()
     checkTeXAllowSpaces()
+    windows_style_tex_paths = checkTeXPaths()
     if windows_style_tex_paths != '':
         addToRC(r'\tex_expects_windows_paths %s' % windows_style_tex_paths)
     checkOtherEntries()
diff --git a/status.16x b/status.16x
index d3a4156954..446d554297 100644
--- a/status.16x
+++ b/status.16x
@@ -88,3 +88,5 @@ What's new
 
 - Fix compilation with gcc 4.6 (bug 7285).
 
+- Fix reconfigure script: allow LaTeX-less install of LyX under Windows.
+