diff -r d0302d8ecbc1 Doc/library/winsound.rst
--- a/Doc/library/winsound.rst	Wed Aug 10 01:05:56 2016 -0500
+++ b/Doc/library/winsound.rst	Sun Aug 14 15:55:49 2016 -0500
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@
    sound to play; possible values are ``-1``, ``MB_ICONASTERISK``,
    ``MB_ICONEXCLAMATION``, ``MB_ICONHAND``, ``MB_ICONQUESTION``, and ``MB_OK``, all
    described below.  The value ``-1`` produces a "simple beep"; this is the final
-   fallback if a sound cannot be played otherwise.
+   fallback if a sound cannot be played otherwise.  If the system indicates an
+   error, :exc:`RuntimeError` is raised.
 
 
 .. data:: SND_FILENAME
diff -r d0302d8ecbc1 PC/winsound.c
--- a/PC/winsound.c	Wed Aug 10 01:05:56 2016 -0500
+++ b/PC/winsound.c	Sun Aug 14 15:55:49 2016 -0500
@@ -148,7 +148,17 @@
 winsound_MessageBeep_impl(PyObject *module, int x)
 /*[clinic end generated code: output=1ad89e4d8d30a957 input=a776c8a85c9853f6]*/
 {
-    MessageBeep(x);
+    BOOL ok;
+
+    Py_BEGIN_ALLOW_THREADS
+    ok = MessageBeep(x);
+    Py_END_ALLOW_THREADS
+
+    if (!ok) {
+        PyErr_SetExcFromWindowsErr(PyExc_RuntimeError, 0);
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
     Py_RETURN_NONE;
 }