diff --git a/harbour/source/rtl/hbregex.c b/harbour/source/rtl/hbregex.c
index 0a36507838..fe7fb4e348 100644
--- a/harbour/source/rtl/hbregex.c
+++ b/harbour/source/rtl/hbregex.c
@@ -551,9 +551,12 @@ HB_CALL_ON_STARTUP_BEGIN( _hb_regex_init_ )
    hb_regexInit( hb_regfree, hb_regcomp, hb_regexec );
 HB_CALL_ON_STARTUP_END( _hb_regex_init_ )
 
-#if defined(HB_PRAGMA_STARTUP)
+#if defined( HB_PRAGMA_STARTUP )
    #pragma startup _hb_regex_init_
-#elif defined(HB_MSC_STARTUP)
+#elif defined( HB_MSC_STARTUP )
+   #if defined( HB_OS_WIN_64 )
+      #pragma section( HB_MSC_START_SEGMENT, long, read )
+   #endif
    #pragma data_seg( HB_MSC_START_SEGMENT )
    static HB_$INITSYM hb_vm_auto_regex_init_ = _hb_regex_init_;
    #pragma data_seg()