diff --git a/src/Make_mvc.mak b/src/Make_mvc.mak
index 8901a7c311..e30cecc7bd 100644
--- a/src/Make_mvc.mak
+++ b/src/Make_mvc.mak
@@ -1269,6 +1269,9 @@ all:	$(MAIN_TARGET) \
 	tee/tee.exe \
 	GvimExt/gvimext.dll
 
+# To get around the command line limit: Make use of nmake's response files to
+# capture the arguments for $(link) in a file  using the @<<ARGS<< syntax.
+
 !if "$(VIMDLL)" == "yes"
 
 $(VIMDLLBASE).dll: $(OUTDIR) $(OBJ) $(XDIFF_OBJ) $(GUI_OBJ) $(CUI_OBJ) $(OLE_OBJ) $(OLE_IDL) $(MZSCHEME_OBJ) \
@@ -1276,10 +1279,12 @@ $(VIMDLLBASE).dll: $(OUTDIR) $(OBJ) $(XDIFF_OBJ) $(GUI_OBJ) $(CUI_OBJ) $(OLE_OBJ
 		$(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(TERM_OBJ) $(SOUND_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) $(CHANNEL_OBJ) $(XPM_OBJ) \
 		version.c version.h
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS_OUTDIR) version.c
-	$(link) $(LINKARGS1) /dll -out:$(VIMDLLBASE).dll $(OBJ) $(XDIFF_OBJ) $(GUI_OBJ) $(CUI_OBJ) $(OLE_OBJ) \
-		$(LUA_OBJ) $(MZSCHEME_OBJ) $(PERL_OBJ) $(PYTHON_OBJ) $(PYTHON3_OBJ) $(RUBY_OBJ) \
-		$(TCL_OBJ) $(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(TERM_OBJ) $(SOUND_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) $(CHANNEL_OBJ) \
-		$(XPM_OBJ) $(OUTDIR)\version.obj $(LINKARGS2)
+	$(link) @<<
+$(LINKARGS1) /dll -out:$(VIMDLLBASE).dll $(OBJ) $(XDIFF_OBJ) $(GUI_OBJ) $(CUI_OBJ) $(OLE_OBJ) \
+$(LUA_OBJ) $(MZSCHEME_OBJ) $(PERL_OBJ) $(PYTHON_OBJ) $(PYTHON3_OBJ) $(RUBY_OBJ) \
+$(TCL_OBJ) $(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(TERM_OBJ) $(SOUND_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) $(CHANNEL_OBJ) \
+$(XPM_OBJ) $(OUTDIR)\version.obj $(LINKARGS2)
+<<
 
 $(GVIM).exe: $(OUTDIR) $(EXEOBJG) $(VIMDLLBASE).dll
 	$(link) $(LINKARGS1) /subsystem:$(SUBSYSTEM) -out:$(GVIM).exe $(EXEOBJG) $(VIMDLLBASE).lib $(LIBC)
@@ -1296,10 +1301,12 @@ $(VIM).exe: $(OUTDIR) $(OBJ) $(XDIFF_OBJ) $(GUI_OBJ) $(CUI_OBJ) $(OLE_OBJ) $(OLE
 		$(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(TERM_OBJ) $(SOUND_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) $(CHANNEL_OBJ) $(XPM_OBJ) \
 		version.c version.h
 	$(CC) $(CFLAGS_OUTDIR) version.c
-	$(link) $(LINKARGS1) /subsystem:$(SUBSYSTEM) -out:$(VIM).exe $(OBJ) $(XDIFF_OBJ) $(GUI_OBJ) $(CUI_OBJ) $(OLE_OBJ) \
-		$(LUA_OBJ) $(MZSCHEME_OBJ) $(PERL_OBJ) $(PYTHON_OBJ) $(PYTHON3_OBJ) $(RUBY_OBJ) \
-		$(TCL_OBJ) $(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(TERM_OBJ) $(SOUND_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) $(CHANNEL_OBJ) \
-		$(XPM_OBJ) $(OUTDIR)\version.obj $(LINKARGS2)
+	$(link) @<<
+$(LINKARGS1) /subsystem:$(SUBSYSTEM) -out:$(VIM).exe $(OBJ) $(XDIFF_OBJ) $(GUI_OBJ) $(CUI_OBJ) $(OLE_OBJ) \
+$(LUA_OBJ) $(MZSCHEME_OBJ) $(PERL_OBJ) $(PYTHON_OBJ) $(PYTHON3_OBJ) $(RUBY_OBJ) \
+$(TCL_OBJ) $(CSCOPE_OBJ) $(TERM_OBJ) $(SOUND_OBJ) $(NETBEANS_OBJ) $(CHANNEL_OBJ) \
+$(XPM_OBJ) $(OUTDIR)\version.obj $(LINKARGS2)
+<<
 	if exist $(VIM).exe.manifest mt.exe -nologo -manifest $(VIM).exe.manifest -updateresource:$(VIM).exe;1
 
 !endif
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index a159615316..e5c084ffb0 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -777,6 +777,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
+/**/
+    1696,
 /**/
     1695,
 /**/