diff --git a/std/os.zig b/std/os.zig
index a4e8ca3ad8..9ca78fa9f3 100644
--- a/std/os.zig
+++ b/std/os.zig
@@ -138,15 +138,18 @@ fn getRandomBytesDevURandom(buf: []u8) !void {
 /// it raises SIGABRT followed by SIGKILL and finally lo
 pub fn abort() noreturn {
     @setCold(true);
-    if (builtin.link_libc) {
-        system.abort();
-    }
+    // MSVCRT abort() sometimes opens a popup window which is undesirable, so
+    // even when linking libc on Windows we use our own abort implementation.
+    // See https://github.com/ziglang/zig/issues/2071 for more details.
     if (windows.is_the_target) {
         if (builtin.mode == .Debug) {
             @breakpoint();
         }
         windows.kernel32.ExitProcess(3);
     }
+    if (builtin.link_libc) {
+        system.abort();
+    }
     if (builtin.os == .uefi) {
         // TODO there must be a better thing to do here than loop forever
         while (true) {}