diff --git a/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Windows/2026-08-09-15-40-00.gh-issue-85470.Lm4Xt9.rst b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Windows/2026-08-09-15-40-00.gh-issue-85470.Lm4Xt9.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..1d623c890e960b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Misc/NEWS.d/next/Windows/2026-08-09-15-40-00.gh-issue-85470.Lm4Xt9.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Importing :mod:`ctypes` on Windows no longer loads ``user32.dll``, which
+made the system treat the process as a GUI process and stop sending logoff
+and shutdown console control events to it.  ``ole32.dll``, which pulled
+``user32.dll`` in, is now delay loaded.
diff --git a/PCbuild/_ctypes.vcxproj b/PCbuild/_ctypes.vcxproj
index 63d5fa49cd4e17..e56d812d78dcd8 100644
--- a/PCbuild/_ctypes.vcxproj
+++ b/PCbuild/_ctypes.vcxproj
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@
     </ClCompile>
     <Link>
       <AdditionalOptions>/EXPORT:DllGetClassObject,PRIVATE /EXPORT:DllCanUnloadNow,PRIVATE %(AdditionalOptions)</AdditionalOptions>
+      <DelayLoadDLLs>ole32.dll</DelayLoadDLLs>
     </Link>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
   <ItemGroup>