diff --git a/src/libutil/windows/file-descriptor.cc b/src/libutil/windows/file-descriptor.cc
index 274e5844f5f..bd2c4049aa5 100644
--- a/src/libutil/windows/file-descriptor.cc
+++ b/src/libutil/windows/file-descriptor.cc
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ void writeFull(HANDLE handle, std::string_view s, bool allowInterrupts)
     }
 }
 
-std::string readLine(HANDLE handle, bool eofOk)
+std::string readLine(HANDLE handle, bool eofOk, char terminator)
 {
     std::string s;
     while (1) {
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ std::string readLine(HANDLE handle, bool eofOk)
             else
                 throw EndOfFile("unexpected EOF reading a line");
         } else {
-            if (ch == '\n')
+            if (ch == terminator)
                 return s;
             s += ch;
         }