diff --git a/common/exechelp-w32.c b/common/exechelp-w32.c
index 2c44e2c75..da174508e 100644
--- a/common/exechelp-w32.c
+++ b/common/exechelp-w32.c
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ gnupg_spawn_process (const char *pgmname, const char *argv[],
   memset (&si, 0, sizeof si);
   si.cb = sizeof (si);
   si.dwFlags = STARTF_USESTDHANDLES | STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW;
-  si.wShowWindow = DEBUG_W32_SPAWN? SW_SHOW : SW_MINIMIZE;
+  si.wShowWindow = DEBUG_W32_SPAWN? SW_SHOW : SW_HIDE;
   si.hStdInput  = inpipe[0]  == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE? nullhd[0] : inpipe[0];
   si.hStdOutput = outpipe[1] == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE? nullhd[1] : outpipe[1];
   si.hStdError  = errpipe[1] == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE? nullhd[2] : errpipe[1];