diff --git a/api/boinc_api.cpp b/api/boinc_api.cpp
index 0dcdf163e8..839ae016f8 100644
--- a/api/boinc_api.cpp
+++ b/api/boinc_api.cpp
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ static void exit_from_timer_thread(int status) {
 #ifdef _WIN32
     // TerminateProcess() doesn't work if there are suspended threads?
     if (boinc_status.suspended) {
-        retval = resume_activities();
+        resume_activities();
     }
     // this seems to work OK on Windows
     //
diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index 2014e52940..8689e2172b 100644
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -1687,3 +1687,11 @@ Bernd 5 Mar 2010
 
     lib/
         Makefile.mingw
+
+Bernd 5 Mar 2010
+    fix to compile boinc_api.cpp on Windows
+    looks like copy/paste error, retval is not defined there
+    David, please review & change if necessary
+
+    api/
+        boinc_api.cpp