diff --git a/lib/configure.js b/lib/configure.js
index 33906fabce..376ab3403c 100644
--- a/lib/configure.js
+++ b/lib/configure.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 
 module.exports = exports = configure
-
 /**
  * Module dependencies.
  */
@@ -26,14 +25,17 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
   var python = gyp.opts.python || process.env.PYTHON || 'python'
     , buildDir = path.resolve('build')
     , hasVCExpress = false
+    , hasVC2012Express = false
     , hasWin71SDK = false
+    , hasWin8SDK = false
     , configPath
     , nodeDir
 
+
   if (win) {
     checkVCExpress(function () {
-      if (hasVCExpress) {
-        checkWin71SDK(function () {
+      if (hasVCExpress || hasVC2012Express) {
+        checkWinSDK(function () {
           checkPython()
         })
       } else {
@@ -116,6 +118,12 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
           + 'You can pass the --python switch to point to Python >= v2.5.0 & < 3.0.0.'))
   }
 
+  function checkWinSDK(cb) {
+    checkWin71SDK(function() {
+      checkWin8SDK(cb);
+    })
+  }
+
   function checkWin71SDK(cb) {
     spawn('reg', ['query', 'HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Microsoft SDKs\\Windows\\v7.1', '/v', 'InstallationFolder'])
          .on('exit', function (code) {
@@ -124,11 +132,43 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
          })
   }
 
+  function checkWin8SDK(cb) {
+    var cp = spawn('reg', ['query', 'HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows Kits\\Installed Products', '/f', 'Windows Software Development Kit x86', '/reg:32'])
+    cp.on('exit', function (code) {
+      hasWin8SDK = (code === 0)
+      cb()
+    })
+  }
+
+  function checkVC2012Express64(cb) {
+    var cp = spawn('reg', ['query', 'HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Wow6432Node\\Microsoft\\VCExpress\\11.0\\Setup\\VC', '/v', 'ProductDir'])
+    cp.on('exit', function (code) {
+      hasVC2012Express = (code === 0)
+      cb()
+    })
+  }
+
+  function checkVC2012Express(cb) {
+    var cp = spawn('reg', ['query', 'HKLM\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\VCExpress\\11.0\\Setup\\VC', '/v', 'ProductDir'])
+    cp.on('exit', function (code) {
+      hasVC2012Express = (code === 0)
+      if (code !== 0) {
+        checkVC2012Express64(cb)
+      } else {
+        cb()
+      }
+    })
+  }
+
   function checkVCExpress64(cb) {
     var cp = spawn('cmd', ['/C', '%WINDIR%\\SysWOW64\\reg', 'query', 'HKLM\\Software\\Microsoft\\VCExpress\\10.0\\Setup\\VC', '/v', 'ProductDir'])
     cp.on('exit', function (code) {
       hasVCExpress = (code === 0)
-      cb()
+      if (code !== 0) {
+        checkVC2012Express(cb)
+      } else {
+        cb()
+      }
     })
   }
 
@@ -238,9 +278,13 @@ function configure (gyp, argv, callback) {
     // set the target_arch variable
     variables.target_arch = gyp.opts.arch || process.arch || 'ia32'
 
-    // set the toolset for 64-bit VCExpress users
-    if (win && variables.target_arch === 'x64' && hasVCExpress && hasWin71SDK) {
-      defaults.msbuild_toolset = 'Windows7.1SDK'
+    // set the toolset for VCExpress users
+    if (win) {
+      if (hasVC2012Express && hasWin8SDK) {
+        defaults.msbuild_toolset = 'v110'
+      } else if (hasVCExpress && hasWin71SDK) {
+        defaults.msbuild_toolset = 'Windows7.1SDK'
+      }
     }
 
     // set the node development directory