diff --git a/src/catkin_pkg/packages.py b/src/catkin_pkg/packages.py
index 851c78bb..e9720f15 100644
--- a/src/catkin_pkg/packages.py
+++ b/src/catkin_pkg/packages.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 
 import multiprocessing
 import os
+import sys
 
 from .package import _get_package_xml
 from .package import PACKAGE_MANIFEST_FILENAME
@@ -134,6 +135,11 @@ def find_packages_allowing_duplicates(basepath, exclude_paths=None, exclude_subs
         return {}
 
     parallel = len(data) > 100
+    if sys.platform == 'win32':
+        # Windows has path limitations which catkin overflows in nested environments
+        # https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20100203-00/?p=15083
+        parallel = False
+
     if parallel:
         try:
             pool = multiprocessing.Pool()