diff --git a/dcapi/boinc/client.C b/dcapi/boinc/client.C
index b6b14b31b9..3f24f831e9 100644
--- a/dcapi/boinc/client.C
+++ b/dcapi/boinc/client.C
@@ -150,10 +150,10 @@ int DC_initClient(void)
 
 	/* Parse the config file if the master sent one */
 	buf = DC_resolveFileName(DC_FILE_IN, DC_CONFIG_FILE);
-	if (buf && !access(buf, R_OK))
+	if (buf)
 	{
 		ret = _DC_parseCfg(buf);
-		if (ret)
+		if (ret && ret != DC_ERR_SYSTEM)
 			return ret;
 	}
 	free(buf);
diff --git a/dcapi/include/dc_win32.h b/dcapi/include/dc_win32.h
index d2b7d53ab2..b328b83a6e 100644
--- a/dcapi/include/dc_win32.h
+++ b/dcapi/include/dc_win32.h
@@ -25,11 +25,6 @@ enum {
 	LOG_CRIT
 };
 
-/* The access() macros are missing on Windows */
-#define X_OK		1
-#define W_OK		2
-#define R_OK		4
-
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif