diff --git a/py/execnet/inputoutput.py b/py/execnet/inputoutput.py
index 2d431ec62..4d80b600a 100644
--- a/py/execnet/inputoutput.py
+++ b/py/execnet/inputoutput.py
@@ -58,7 +58,11 @@ import sys
 
 class Popen2IO:
     server_stmt = """
-import sys, StringIO
+import os, sys, StringIO
+if sys.platform == "win32":
+    import msvcrt
+    msvcrt.setmode(sys.stdin.fileno(), os.O_BINARY)
+    msvcrt.setmode(sys.stdout.fileno(), os.O_BINARY)
 io = Popen2IO(sys.stdout, sys.stdin)
 sys.stdout = sys.stderr = StringIO.StringIO() 
 #try:
@@ -70,10 +74,6 @@ sys.stdout = sys.stderr = StringIO.StringIO()
     error = (IOError, OSError, EOFError)
 
     def __init__(self, infile, outfile):
-        if sys.platform == 'win32':
-            import msvcrt
-            msvcrt.setmode(infile.fileno(), os.O_BINARY)
-            msvcrt.setmode(outfile.fileno(), os.O_BINARY)
         self.outfile, self.infile = infile, outfile
         self.readable = self.writeable = True
         self.lock = thread.allocate_lock()
diff --git a/py/execnet/register.py b/py/execnet/register.py
index 7422366d4..b08fdd6dc 100644
--- a/py/execnet/register.py
+++ b/py/execnet/register.py
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ class InstallableGateway(gateway.Gateway):
 class PopenCmdGateway(InstallableGateway):
     def __init__(self, cmd):
         infile, outfile = os.popen2(cmd)
+        if sys.platform == 'win32':
+            import msvcrt
+            msvcrt.setmode(infile.fileno(), os.O_BINARY)
+            msvcrt.setmode(outfile.fileno(), os.O_BINARY)
         io = inputoutput.Popen2IO(infile, outfile)
         super(PopenCmdGateway, self).__init__(io=io)