diff --git a/sys/share/pcmain.c b/sys/share/pcmain.c
index 267cb0674..41a436d4a 100644
--- a/sys/share/pcmain.c
+++ b/sys/share/pcmain.c
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ extern void FDECL(nethack_exit,(int));
 #define nethack_exit exit
 #endif
 
+#ifdef WIN32
+extern boolean getreturn_enabled;	/* from sys/share/pcsys.c */
+#endif
+
 #if defined(MSWIN_GRAPHICS)
 extern void NDECL(mswin_destroy_reg);
 #endif
@@ -433,7 +437,9 @@ not_recovered:
 #ifdef OS2
 	gettty(); /* somehow ctrl-P gets turned back on during startup ... */
 #endif
-
+#ifdef WIN32
+	getreturn_enabled = TRUE;
+#endif
 	return;
 }
 
diff --git a/sys/share/pcsys.c b/sys/share/pcsys.c
index 9c3f76284..9828508de 100644
--- a/sys/share/pcsys.c
+++ b/sys/share/pcsys.c
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ char *name;
 }
 
 #ifdef WIN32
-boolean getreturn_disable;
+boolean getreturn_enabled;
 #endif
 
 void
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ getreturn(str)
 const char *str;
 {
 #ifdef WIN32
-	if (getreturn_disable) return;
+	if (!getreturn_enabled) return;
 #endif
 #ifdef TOS
 	msmsg("Hit <Return> %s.", str);
diff --git a/sys/winnt/nttty.c b/sys/winnt/nttty.c
index 29ad6fd67..a1c2668ab 100644
--- a/sys/winnt/nttty.c
+++ b/sys/winnt/nttty.c
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ INPUT_RECORD ir;
 int GUILaunched;
 static BOOL FDECL(CtrlHandler, (DWORD));
 
+extern boolean getreturn_enabled;	/* from sys/share/pcsys.c */
+
 /* dynamic keystroke handling .DLL support */
 typedef int (__stdcall * PROCESS_KEYSTROKE)(
     HANDLE,
@@ -207,8 +209,6 @@ tty_end_screen()
 	FlushConsoleInputBuffer(hConIn);
 }
 
-extern boolean getreturn_disable;	/* from sys/share/pcsys.c */
-
 static BOOL CtrlHandler(ctrltype)
 DWORD ctrltype;
 {
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ DWORD ctrltype;
 		case CTRL_CLOSE_EVENT:
 		case CTRL_LOGOFF_EVENT:
 		case CTRL_SHUTDOWN_EVENT:
-			getreturn_disable = TRUE;
+			getreturn_enabled = FALSE;
 #ifndef NOSAVEONHANGUP
 			hangup(0);
 #endif