diff --git a/cmdline/mingw.c b/cmdline/mingw.c
index ba896fee..968583e6 100644
--- a/cmdline/mingw.c
+++ b/cmdline/mingw.c
@@ -264,7 +264,8 @@ void os_abort(void)
 	for (i=0; i<size; ++i)
 		printf("[bt] %02u: %p\n", i, stack[i]);
 
-	abort();
+	/* use exit() and not abort to avoid the Windows abort dialog */
+	exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 }
 
 /**