diff --git a/etcdmain/const_unix.go b/etcdmain/const_unix.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bfb0dfa44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etcdmain/const_unix.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// +build !windows,!plan9
+
+package etcdmain
+
+const (
+	defaultMaxSnapshots = 5
+	defaultMaxWALs      = 5
+)
diff --git a/etcdmain/const_windows.go b/etcdmain/const_windows.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..608e83ae8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/etcdmain/const_windows.go
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// +build windows
+
+package etcdmain
+
+const (
+	defaultMaxSnapshots = 0
+	defaultMaxWALs      = 0
+)
diff --git a/etcdmain/etcd.go b/etcdmain/etcd.go
index ab6ea8500..22ff6ef4b 100644
--- a/etcdmain/etcd.go
+++ b/etcdmain/etcd.go
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ var (
 	snapCount       = fs.Uint64("snapshot-count", etcdserver.DefaultSnapCount, "Number of committed transactions to trigger a snapshot")
 	printVersion    = fs.Bool("version", false, "Print the version and exit")
 	forceNewCluster = fs.Bool("force-new-cluster", false, "Force to create a new one member cluster")
-	maxSnapFiles    = fs.Uint("max-snapshots", 5, "Maximum number of snapshot files to retain (0 is unlimited)")
-	maxWalFiles     = fs.Uint("max-wals", 5, "Maximum number of wal files to retain (0 is unlimited)")
+	maxSnapFiles    = fs.Uint("max-snapshots", defaultMaxSnapshots, "Maximum number of snapshot files to retain (0 is unlimited)")
+	maxWalFiles     = fs.Uint("max-wals", defaultMaxWALs, "Maximum number of wal files to retain (0 is unlimited)")
 
 	initialCluster      = fs.String("initial-cluster", "default=http://localhost:2380,default=http://localhost:7001", "Initial cluster configuration for bootstrapping")
 	initialClusterToken = fs.String("initial-cluster-token", "etcd-cluster", "Initial cluster token for the etcd cluster during bootstrap")