diff --git a/numpy/distutils/mingw32ccompiler.py b/numpy/distutils/mingw32ccompiler.py
index 5b352c30055b..e64cdf8b7b5f 100644
--- a/numpy/distutils/mingw32ccompiler.py
+++ b/numpy/distutils/mingw32ccompiler.py
@@ -90,6 +90,17 @@ def __init__ (self,
 
         build_import_library()
 
+        # Check for custom msvc runtime library on Windows. Build if it doesn't exist.
+        msvcr_success = build_msvcr_library()
+        msvcr_dbg_success = build_msvcr_library(debug=True)
+        if msvcr_success or msvcr_dbg_success:
+            # add preprocessor statement for using customized msvcr lib
+            self.define_macro('NPY_MINGW_USE_CUSTOM_MSVCR')
+
+        # Define the MSVC version as hint for MinGW
+        msvcr_version = '0x%03i0' % int(msvc_runtime_library().lstrip('msvcr'))
+        self.define_macro('__MSVCRT_VERSION__', msvcr_version)
+        
         # **changes: eric jones 4/11/01
         # 2. increased optimization and turned off all warnings
         # 3. also added --driver-name g++
@@ -104,7 +115,7 @@ def __init__ (self,
         # bad consequences, like using Py_ModuleInit4 instead of
         # Py_ModuleInit4_64, etc... So we add it here
         if get_build_architecture() == 'AMD64':
-            if self.gcc_version < "4.":
+            if self.gcc_version < "4.0":
                 self.set_executables(
                     compiler='gcc -g -DDEBUG -DMS_WIN64 -mno-cygwin -O0 -Wall',
                     compiler_so='gcc -g -DDEBUG -DMS_WIN64 -mno-cygwin -O0 -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes',
@@ -124,7 +135,7 @@ def __init__ (self,
                                      linker_exe='g++ -mno-cygwin',
                                      linker_so='%s -mno-cygwin -mdll -static %s'
                                      % (self.linker, entry_point))
-            elif self.gcc_version < "4.":
+            elif self.gcc_version < "4.0":
                 self.set_executables(compiler='gcc -mno-cygwin -O2 -Wall',
                                      compiler_so='gcc -mno-cygwin -O2 -Wall -Wstrict-prototypes',
                                      linker_exe='g++ -mno-cygwin',
@@ -263,15 +274,14 @@ def generate_def(dll, dfile):
     The .def file will be overwritten"""
     dump = dump_table(dll)
     for i in range(len(dump)):
-        if _START.match(dump[i]):
+        if _START.match(dump[i].decode()):
             break
-
-    if i == len(dump):
+    else:
         raise ValueError("Symbol table not found")
 
     syms = []
     for j in range(i+1, len(dump)):
-        m = _TABLE.match(dump[j])
+        m = _TABLE.match(dump[j].decode())
         if m:
             syms.append((int(m.group(1).strip()), m.group(2)))
         else:
@@ -290,6 +300,74 @@ def generate_def(dll, dfile):
         d.write('%s\n' % s[1])
     d.close()
 
+def find_dll(dll_name):
+    
+    def _find_dll_in_winsxs(dll_name):
+        # Walk through the WinSxS directory to find the dll.
+        winsxs_path = os.path.join(os.environ['WINDIR'], 'winsxs')
+        if not os.path.exists(winsxs_path):
+            return None
+        for root, dirs, files in os.walk(winsxs_path):
+            if dll_name in files:
+                return os.path.join(root, dll_name)
+        return None
+    
+    def _find_dll_in_path(dll_name):
+        # First, look in the Python directory, then scan PATH for
+        # the given dll name.
+        for path in [sys.prefix] + os.environ['PATH'].split(';'):
+            filepath = os.path.join(path, dll_name)
+            if os.path.exists(filepath):
+                return os.path.abspath(filepath)
+    
+    return _find_dll_in_winsxs(dll_name) or _find_dll_in_path(dll_name)
+
+def build_msvcr_library(debug=False):
+    if os.name != 'nt':
+        return False
+
+    msvcr_name = msvc_runtime_library()
+
+    # Skip using a custom library for versions < MSVC 8.0
+    if int(msvcr_name.lstrip('msvcr')) < 80:
+        log.debug('Skip building msvcr library: custom functionality not present')
+        return False
+
+    if debug:
+        msvcr_name += 'd'
+    
+    # Skip if custom library already exists
+    out_name = "lib%s.a" % msvcr_name
+    out_file = os.path.join(sys.prefix, 'libs', out_name)
+    if os.path.isfile(out_file):
+        log.debug('Skip building msvcr library: "%s" exists' % (out_file))
+        return True
+
+    # Find the msvcr dll
+    msvcr_dll_name = msvcr_name + '.dll'
+    dll_file = find_dll(msvcr_dll_name)
+    if not dll_file:
+        log.warn('Cannot build msvcr library: "%s" not found' % msvcr_dll_name)
+        return False
+
+    def_name = "lib%s.def" % msvcr_name
+    def_file = os.path.join(sys.prefix, 'libs', def_name)
+
+    log.info('Building msvcr library: "%s" (from %s)' \
+             % (out_file, dll_file))
+
+    # Generate a symbol definition file from the msvcr dll
+    generate_def(dll_file, def_file)
+
+    # Create a custom mingw library for the given symbol definitions
+    cmd = ['dlltool', '-d', def_file, '-l', out_file]
+    retcode = subprocess.call(cmd)
+
+    # Clean up symbol definitions
+    os.remove(def_file)
+
+    return (not retcode)
+
 def build_import_library():
     if os.name != 'nt':
         return