Index: Lib/test/test_subprocess.py
===================================================================
--- Lib/test/test_subprocess.py	(revision 53961)
+++ Lib/test/test_subprocess.py	(working copy)
@@ -617,6 +617,7 @@
             self.assertRaises(ValueError, subprocess.call,
                               [sys.executable,
                                "-c", "import sys; sys.exit(47)"],
+                              stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                               close_fds=True)
 
         def test_shell_sequence(self):
Index: Lib/subprocess.py
===================================================================
--- Lib/subprocess.py	(revision 53961)
+++ Lib/subprocess.py	(working copy)
@@ -547,9 +547,10 @@
             if preexec_fn is not None:
                 raise ValueError("preexec_fn is not supported on Windows "
                                  "platforms")
-            if close_fds:
+            if close_fds and (stdin is not None or stdout is not None or
+                              stderr is not None):
                 raise ValueError("close_fds is not supported on Windows "
-                                 "platforms")
+                                 "platforms if you redirect stdin/out/err")
         else:
             # POSIX
             if startupinfo is not None:
@@ -772,6 +773,11 @@
                 args = list2cmdline(args)
 
             # Process startup details
+            if close_fds:
+                inheritHandles = 0
+            else:
+                inheritHandles = 1
+
             if startupinfo is None:
                 startupinfo = STARTUPINFO()
             if None not in (p2cread, c2pwrite, errwrite):
@@ -779,6 +785,10 @@
                 startupinfo.hStdInput = p2cread
                 startupinfo.hStdOutput = c2pwrite
                 startupinfo.hStdError = errwrite
+                # Must inherit handles to pass std handles
+                # Checked close_fds earlier so this assert should hold
+                assert inheritHandles == 1
+                inheritHandles = 1 # In case assert is disabled
 
             if shell:
                 startupinfo.dwFlags |= STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
@@ -806,9 +816,7 @@
                 hp, ht, pid, tid = CreateProcess(executable, args,
                                          # no special security
                                          None, None,
-                                         # must inherit handles to pass std
-                                         # handles
-                                         1,
+                                         inheritHandles,
                                          creationflags,
                                          env,
                                          cwd,