3-(beta-D-Ribofuranosyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole-5-carboxamide (5) was prepared by condensation reaction of amidoxime 6 with monoethyl oxaloyl chloride followed by reaction with ammonia. The compound 5, however, did not exhibit any significant activity against herpes simplex virus type-I (HSV-I) and semliki forest virus (SFV).