diff --git a/setup-r/action.yml b/setup-r/action.yml
index 6dc6b555a..0ba1ba51e 100644
--- a/setup-r/action.yml
+++ b/setup-r/action.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ inputs:
     default: 'default'
   install-r:
     default: true
+  windows-path-include-mingw:
+    description: 'If "true" put the 64 bit mingw directory from Rtools on the
+    PATH for Windows builds'
+    default: true
 outputs:
   installed-r-version:
     description: 'The full R version installed'
diff --git a/setup-r/lib/installer.js b/setup-r/lib/installer.js
index 4cccc441a..1d2a95343 100644
--- a/setup-r/lib/installer.js
+++ b/setup-r/lib/installer.js
@@ -330,11 +330,15 @@ function acquireRtools(version) {
         }
         if (rtools4) {
             core.addPath(`C:\\rtools40\\usr\\bin`);
-            core.addPath(`C:\\rtools40\\mingw64\\bin`);
+            if (core.getInput("windows-path-include-mingw")) {
+                core.addPath(`C:\\rtools40\\mingw64\\bin`);
+            }
         }
         else {
             core.addPath(`C:\\Rtools\\bin`);
-            core.addPath(`C:\\Rtools\\mingw_64\\bin`);
+            if (core.getInput("windows-path-include-mingw")) {
+                core.addPath(`C:\\Rtools\\mingw_64\\bin`);
+            }
         }
     });
 }
diff --git a/setup-r/src/installer.ts b/setup-r/src/installer.ts
index 00c9d0056..ac999a483 100644
--- a/setup-r/src/installer.ts
+++ b/setup-r/src/installer.ts
@@ -319,10 +319,14 @@ async function acquireRtools(version: string) {
   }
   if (rtools4) {
     core.addPath(`C:\\rtools40\\usr\\bin`);
-    core.addPath(`C:\\rtools40\\mingw64\\bin`);
+    if (core.getInput("windows-path-include-mingw")) {
+      core.addPath(`C:\\rtools40\\mingw64\\bin`);
+    }
   } else {
     core.addPath(`C:\\Rtools\\bin`);
-    core.addPath(`C:\\Rtools\\mingw_64\\bin`);
+    if (core.getInput("windows-path-include-mingw")) {
+      core.addPath(`C:\\Rtools\\mingw_64\\bin`);
+    }
   }
 }