diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator.cxx b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator.cxx
index d11ee7c064..2312bc05bf 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator.cxx
@@ -109,6 +109,18 @@ void cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator::WriteSLNHeader(std::ostream& fout)
   }
 }
 
+bool cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator::InitializeWindows(cmMakefile* mf)
+{
+  // If the Win 8.1 SDK is installed then we can select a SDK matching
+  // the target Windows version.
+  if (this->IsWin81SDKInstalled()) {
+    return cmGlobalVisualStudio14Generator::InitializeWindows(mf);
+  }
+  // Otherwise we must choose a Win 10 SDK even if we are not targeting
+  // Windows 10.
+  return this->SelectWindows10SDK(mf, false);
+}
+
 bool cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator::SelectWindowsStoreToolset(
   std::string& toolset) const
 {
@@ -135,6 +147,28 @@ bool cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator::IsWindowsStoreToolsetInstalled() const
   return vsSetupAPIHelper.IsWin10SDKInstalled();
 }
 
+bool cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator::IsWin81SDKInstalled() const
+{
+  // Does the VS installer tool know about one?
+  if (vsSetupAPIHelper.IsWin81SDKInstalled()) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // Does the registry know about one (e.g. from VS 2015)?
+  std::string win81Root;
+  if (cmSystemTools::ReadRegistryValue(
+        "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\"
+        "Windows Kits\\Installed Roots;KitsRoot81",
+        win81Root, cmSystemTools::KeyWOW64_32) ||
+      cmSystemTools::ReadRegistryValue(
+        "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\"
+        "Windows Kits\\Installed Roots;KitsRoot81",
+        win81Root, cmSystemTools::KeyWOW64_32)) {
+    return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 std::string cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator::FindMSBuildCommand()
 {
   std::string msbuild;
diff --git a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator.h b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator.h
index 781b41e54b..f979b65c01 100644
--- a/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator.h
+++ b/Source/cmGlobalVisualStudio15Generator.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ public:
 
   virtual const char* GetToolsVersion() { return "15.0"; }
 protected:
+  bool InitializeWindows(cmMakefile* mf) CM_OVERRIDE;
   virtual bool SelectWindowsStoreToolset(std::string& toolset) const;
 
   virtual const char* GetIDEVersion() { return "15.0"; }
@@ -40,6 +41,9 @@ protected:
   // of the toolset is installed
   bool IsWindowsStoreToolsetInstalled() const;
 
+  // Check for a Win 8 SDK known to the registry or VS installer tool.
+  bool IsWin81SDKInstalled() const;
+
   std::string FindMSBuildCommand() CM_OVERRIDE;
   std::string FindDevEnvCommand() CM_OVERRIDE;