diff --git a/cmd/tailscaled/tailscaled.go b/cmd/tailscaled/tailscaled.go
index 9df15bcaa..039657873 100644
--- a/cmd/tailscaled/tailscaled.go
+++ b/cmd/tailscaled/tailscaled.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func main() {
 		log.Fatalf("--state is required")
 	}
 
-	if *socketpath == "" {
+	if *socketpath == "" && runtime.GOOS != "windows" {
 		log.Fatalf("--socket is required")
 	}