diff --git a/vm/Config.windows.nt b/vm/Config.windows.nt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8c67b11c19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vm/Config.windows.nt
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+LIBS = -lm
+EXE_SUFFIX=-nt
+DLL_SUFFIX=-nt
+PLAF_DLL_OBJS += vm/os-windows-nt.o
+PLAF_EXE_OBJS += vm/resources.o
+PLAF_EXE_OBJS += vm/main-windows-nt.o
+CFLAGS += -mwindows
+include vm/Config.windows
diff --git a/vm/Config.windows.nt.x86.32 b/vm/Config.windows.nt.x86.32
index adc69b1e27..a8d4931b4d 100644
--- a/vm/Config.windows.nt.x86.32
+++ b/vm/Config.windows.nt.x86.32
@@ -1,7 +1,2 @@
-LIBS = -lm
-EXE_SUFFIX=-nt
-DLL_SUFFIX=-nt
-PLAF_DLL_OBJS += vm/os-windows-nt.o
-PLAF_EXE_OBJS += vm/resources.o
-PLAF_EXE_OBJS += vm/main-windows-nt.o
-include vm/Config.x86.32 vm/Config.windows
+include vm/Config.windows.nt
+include vm/Config.x86.32
diff --git a/vm/debug.c b/vm/debug.c
index 55ffcadca6..2692bdf59c 100755
--- a/vm/debug.c
+++ b/vm/debug.c
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ void dump_objects(F_FIXNUM type)
 void factorbug(void)
 {
 	reset_stdio();
+	open_console();
 
 	printf("Starting low level debugger...\n");
 	printf("  Basic commands:\n");
diff --git a/vm/factor.c b/vm/factor.c
index 690f5d490c..8719416b72 100755
--- a/vm/factor.c
+++ b/vm/factor.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ void default_parameters(F_PARAMETERS *p)
 
 	p->secure_gc = false;
 	p->fep = false;
+	p->console = false;
 }
 
 /* Get things started */
@@ -110,6 +111,8 @@ void init_factor_from_args(F_CHAR *image, int argc, F_CHAR **argv, bool embedded
 			p.fep = true;
 		else if(STRNCMP(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-i="),3) == 0)
 			p.image = argv[i] + 3;
+		else if(STRCMP(argv[i],STR_FORMAT("-console")) == 0)
+			p.console = true ;
 	}
 
 	init_factor(&p);
@@ -135,6 +138,9 @@ void init_factor_from_args(F_CHAR *image, int argc, F_CHAR **argv, bool embedded
 
 	nest_stacks();
 
+	if(p.console)
+		open_console();
+
 	if(p.fep)
 		factorbug();
 
diff --git a/vm/image.h b/vm/image.h
index 52b666254e..3774263031 100755
--- a/vm/image.h
+++ b/vm/image.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ typedef struct {
 	CELL code_size;
 	bool secure_gc;
 	bool fep;
+	bool console;
 } F_PARAMETERS;
 
 void load_image(F_PARAMETERS *p);
diff --git a/vm/os-unix.c b/vm/os-unix.c
index 303c01491a..437a528fb8 100644
--- a/vm/os-unix.c
+++ b/vm/os-unix.c
@@ -256,3 +256,5 @@ void reset_stdio(void)
 	fcntl(0,F_SETFL,0);
 	fcntl(1,F_SETFL,0);
 }
+
+void open_console(void) { }
diff --git a/vm/os-unix.h b/vm/os-unix.h
index cbce7de985..85f760b5aa 100755
--- a/vm/os-unix.h
+++ b/vm/os-unix.h
@@ -39,3 +39,4 @@ s64 current_millis(void);
 void sleep_millis(CELL msec);
 
 void reset_stdio(void);
+void open_console(void);
diff --git a/vm/os-windows-ce.c b/vm/os-windows-ce.c
index 1465e0c89f..e68a6385ae 100755
--- a/vm/os-windows-ce.c
+++ b/vm/os-windows-ce.c
@@ -46,3 +46,5 @@ void c_to_factor_toplevel(CELL quot)
 {
 	c_to_factor(quot);
 }
+
+void open_console(void) { }
diff --git a/vm/os-windows-ce.h b/vm/os-windows-ce.h
index 959de89634..f1d6df6f3d 100755
--- a/vm/os-windows-ce.h
+++ b/vm/os-windows-ce.h
@@ -24,3 +24,4 @@ char *getenv(char *name);
 
 s64 current_millis(void);
 void c_to_factor_toplevel(CELL quot);
+void open_console(void);
diff --git a/vm/os-windows-nt.c b/vm/os-windows-nt.c
index baa0a06c4b..afd1e0ed3b 100755
--- a/vm/os-windows-nt.c
+++ b/vm/os-windows-nt.c
@@ -88,3 +88,17 @@ void c_to_factor_toplevel(CELL quot)
 	c_to_factor(quot);
 	RemoveVectoredExceptionHandler((void*)exception_handler);
 }
+
+void open_console(void)
+{
+	if(!console_open)
+	{
+		if(!AttachConsole(ATTACH_PARENT_PROCESS))
+		{
+			if(AllocConsole())
+				console_open = true;
+		}
+		else
+			console_open = true;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/vm/os-windows-nt.h b/vm/os-windows-nt.h
index f7c56c129d..9e451f0301 100755
--- a/vm/os-windows-nt.h
+++ b/vm/os-windows-nt.h
@@ -18,3 +18,5 @@ typedef char F_SYMBOL;
 
 void c_to_factor_toplevel(CELL quot);
 long exception_handler(PEXCEPTION_POINTERS pe);
+bool console_open;
+void open_console(void);