diff --git a/src/misc1.c b/src/misc1.c
index 9371760..c220c2c 100644
--- a/src/misc1.c
+++ b/src/misc1.c
@@ -9481,12 +9481,14 @@ gen_expand_wildcards(num_pat, pat, num_file, file, flags)
      * call the machine specific expansion function, if possible.  Otherwise,
      * return FAIL.
      */
-    if (recursive)
+    if (recursive) {
 #ifdef SPECIAL_WILDCHAR
 	return mch_expand_wildcards(num_pat, pat, num_file, file, flags);
 #else
+	recursive = FALSE;
 	return FAIL;
 #endif
+    }
 
 #ifdef SPECIAL_WILDCHAR
     /*