diff --git a/node.gyp b/node.gyp
index abc83c51b3..f9bc8ca231 100644
--- a/node.gyp
+++ b/node.gyp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   'variables': {
-    'v8_use_snapshot': 'true',
+    'v8_use_snapshot%': 'true',
     # Turn off -Werror in V8
     # See http://codereview.chromium.org/8159015
     'werror': '',
diff --git a/vcbuild.bat b/vcbuild.bat
index 38a1951b92..74c02c73bf 100644
--- a/vcbuild.bat
+++ b/vcbuild.bat
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ set target=Build
 set noprojgen=
 set nobuild=
 set nosign=
+set nosnapshot=
 set test=
 set test_args=
 set msi=
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ if /i "%1"=="clean"        set target=Clean&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="noprojgen"    set noprojgen=1&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="nobuild"      set nobuild=1&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="nosign"       set nosign=1&goto arg-ok
+if /i "%1"=="nosnapshot"   set nosnapshot=1&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="test-uv"      set test=test-uv&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="test-internet"set test=test-internet&goto arg-ok
 if /i "%1"=="test-pummel"  set test=test-pummel&goto arg-ok
@@ -53,10 +55,18 @@ if defined upload goto upload
 if defined noprojgen goto msbuild
 
 @rem Generate the VS project.
+if defined nosnapshot goto nosnapshotgen
 python tools\gyp_node -f msvs -G msvs_version=2010
 if errorlevel 1 goto create-msvs-files-failed
 if not exist node.sln goto create-msvs-files-failed
 echo Project files generated.
+goto msbuild
+
+:nosnapshotgen
+python tools\gyp_node -f msvs -G msvs_version=2010 -D v8_use_snapshot='false'
+if errorlevel 1 goto create-msvs-files-failed
+if not exist node.sln goto create-msvs-files-failed
+echo Project files generated.
 
 :msbuild
 @rem Skip project generation if requested.