diff --git a/ext/win32/lib/win32/resolv.rb b/ext/win32/lib/win32/resolv.rb
index 647f1446fc..340a9b9d2b 100644
--- a/ext/win32/lib/win32/resolv.rb
+++ b/ext/win32/lib/win32/resolv.rb
@@ -60,6 +60,21 @@ module Win32
 # Windows NT
 #====================================================================
   module Resolv
+    module SZ
+      refine Registry do
+        # ad hoc workaround for broken registry
+        def read_s(key)
+          type, str = read(key)
+          unless type == Registry::REG_SZ
+            warn "Broken registry, #{name}\\#{key} was #{Registry.type2name(type)}, ignored"
+            return String.new
+          end
+          str
+        end
+      end
+    end
+    using SZ
+
     TCPIP_NT = 'SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters'
 
     class << self