diff --git a/LibGit2Sharp/Core/NativeMethods.cs b/LibGit2Sharp/Core/NativeMethods.cs
index 219615f11..1fefd0bd3 100644
--- a/LibGit2Sharp/Core/NativeMethods.cs
+++ b/LibGit2Sharp/Core/NativeMethods.cs
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ private static string GetGlobalSettingsNativeLibraryPath()
             {
                 return null;
             }
-            return Path.Combine(nativeLibraryDir, libgit2 + Platform.GetNativeLibraryExtension());
+            return Path.Combine(nativeLibraryDir, Platform.GetNativeLibraryPrefix() + libgit2 + Platform.GetNativeLibraryExtension());
         }
 
         private delegate bool TryLoadLibraryByNameDelegate(string libraryName, Assembly assembly, DllImportSearchPath? searchPath, out IntPtr handle);
diff --git a/LibGit2Sharp/Core/Platform.cs b/LibGit2Sharp/Core/Platform.cs
index 52859cbe2..4dd05fd91 100644
--- a/LibGit2Sharp/Core/Platform.cs
+++ b/LibGit2Sharp/Core/Platform.cs
@@ -56,6 +56,21 @@ public static OperatingSystemType OperatingSystem
             }
         }
 
+        public static string GetNativeLibraryPrefix()
+        {
+            switch (OperatingSystem)
+            {
+                case OperatingSystemType.MacOSX:
+                case OperatingSystemType.Unix:
+                    return "lib";
+
+                case OperatingSystemType.Windows:
+                    return string.Empty;
+            }
+
+            throw new PlatformNotSupportedException();
+        }
+
         public static string GetNativeLibraryExtension()
         {
             switch (OperatingSystem)