diff --git a/src/worksp/README b/src/worksp/README
index c2b0b31f90..eb9764229c 100644
--- a/src/worksp/README
+++ b/src/worksp/README
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ As always, please report bugs via one of the following:
 Building Racket and GRacket
 ---------------------------
 
-If you're using MSVC 2008 (not Express), and if `devenv.exe' is in your
-path, then you can just run
+If you're using MSVC 2008, and if `cl.exe' and either `devenv.exe'
+or `vcexpress.exe' is in your path, then you can just run
     racket\src\worksp\build.bat
 from its own directory to perform all steps up to "Versioning",
 including the MzCOM steps.
diff --git a/src/worksp/build.bat b/src/worksp/build.bat
index 4b0c7efd1c..72d83c9ef0 100644
--- a/src/worksp/build.bat
+++ b/src/worksp/build.bat
@@ -4,11 +4,15 @@ cl rbuildmode.c
 rbuildmode.exe
 if errorlevel 1 (set BUILDMODE=win32) else (set BUILDMODE=x64)
 
+set DEVENV=devenv
+for %%X in (vcexpress.exe) do (set VCEXP=%%~$PATH:X)
+if defined VCEXP set DEVENV=%VCEXP%
+
 cd racket
-devenv racket.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
+"%DEVENV%" racket.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
 if errorlevel 1 exit /B 1
 cd ..\gracket
-devenv gracket.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
+"%DEVENV%" gracket.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
 if errorlevel 1 exit /B 1
 cd ..
 
@@ -29,15 +33,15 @@ if errorlevel 1 exit /B 1
 if errorlevel 1 exit /B 1
 
 cd mzstart
-devenv mzstart.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
+"%DEVENV%" mzstart.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
 if errorlevel 1 exit /B 1
 cd ..\mrstart
-devenv mrstart.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
+"%DEVENV%" mrstart.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
 if errorlevel 1 exit /B 1
 cd ..
 
 cd mzcom
-devenv mzcom.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
+"%DEVENV%" mzcom.sln /Build "Release|%BUILDMODE%"
 if errorlevel 1 exit /B 1
 cd ..
 
@@ -47,7 +51,7 @@ if errorlevel 1 exit /B 1
 cd ..
 
 cd mzcom
-devenv mzcom.sln /Build "3m|%BUILDMODE%"
+"%DEVENV%" mzcom.sln /Build "3m|%BUILDMODE%"
 if errorlevel 1 exit /B 1
 cd ..