Apparently, you cannot avoids precompiled headers for selected files on Windows, or you have to turn it off all together. Webrev: http://cr.openjdk.java.net/~zgu/shenandoah/win-build/webrev.00/ Test: Windows X64 PCH and Non-PCH builds Linux x64 PCH and Non-PCH builds ARM32 PCH and Non-PCH builds Thanks, -Zhengyu