diff --git a/sycl/pi_win_proxy_loader/pi_win_proxy_loader.cpp b/sycl/pi_win_proxy_loader/pi_win_proxy_loader.cpp
index f687e811cfe09..718373588835a 100644
--- a/sycl/pi_win_proxy_loader/pi_win_proxy_loader.cpp
+++ b/sycl/pi_win_proxy_loader/pi_win_proxy_loader.cpp
@@ -134,11 +134,22 @@ void preloadLibraries() {
   MapT &dllMap = getDllMap();
 
   auto ocl_path = LibSYCLDir / __SYCL_OPENCL_PLUGIN_NAME;
-  dllMap.emplace(ocl_path,
-                 LoadLibraryEx(ocl_path.wstring().c_str(), NULL, NULL));
-
+  // When searching for dependencies of the OpenCL plugin (which includes ICD
+  // loader) limit the list of directories to %windows%\system32 and the
+  // directory that contains the loaded DLL (OpenCL plugin). ICD loader is
+  // located in the same directory as OpenCL plugin. Standard library
+  // dependencies are in the system directory.
+  dllMap.emplace(ocl_path, LoadLibraryEx(ocl_path.wstring().c_str(), NULL,
+                                         LOAD_LIBRARY_SEARCH_DLL_LOAD_DIR |
+                                             LOAD_LIBRARY_SEARCH_SYSTEM32));
+
+  // When searching for dependencies of the Level Zero plugin (which includes
+  // level zero loader) limit the list of directories to %windows%\system32.
+  // In this case we know that the Level Zero Loader is located in the system
+  // directory. Standard library dependencies are in the system directory.
   auto l0_path = LibSYCLDir / __SYCL_LEVEL_ZERO_PLUGIN_NAME;
-  dllMap.emplace(l0_path, LoadLibraryEx(l0_path.wstring().c_str(), NULL, NULL));
+  dllMap.emplace(l0_path, LoadLibraryEx(l0_path.wstring().c_str(), NULL,
+                                        LOAD_LIBRARY_SEARCH_SYSTEM32));
 
   auto cuda_path = LibSYCLDir / __SYCL_CUDA_PLUGIN_NAME;
   dllMap.emplace(cuda_path,