diff --git a/harbour/source/rtl/gt/gtwin.c b/harbour/source/rtl/gt/gtwin.c
index dba02ffe05..fcac7dbce6 100644
--- a/harbour/source/rtl/gt/gtwin.c
+++ b/harbour/source/rtl/gt/gtwin.c
@@ -109,7 +109,13 @@ do
 void hb_gt_Init( void )
 {
    LOG( "Initializing" );
-   hb_gtHInput = GetStdHandle( STD_INPUT_HANDLE );
+
+   if( ( hb_gtHInput = GetStdHandle( STD_INPUT_HANDLE ) ) == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE )
+   {
+      AllocConsole(); /* It is a Windows app without a console, so we create one */
+      hb_gtHInput = GetStdHandle( STD_INPUT_HANDLE );
+   }
+
    SetConsoleMode( hb_gtHInput, 0 );
    /* ptucker */
    HOriginal = HOutput = HCursor = CreateFile( "CONOUT$",     /* filename    */