diff --git a/libinterp/corefcn/utils.cc b/libinterp/corefcn/utils.cc
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/utils.cc
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/utils.cc
@@ -1262,6 +1262,10 @@
 {
   if (seconds > 0)
     {
+#if defined (__WIN32__)
+      BEGIN_INTERRUPT_IMMEDIATELY_IN_FOREIGN_CODE;
+#endif
+
       double t;
 
       unsigned int usec
@@ -1277,7 +1281,11 @@
       octave_sleep (sec);
       octave_usleep (usec);
 
+#if defined (__WIN32__)
+      END_INTERRUPT_IMMEDIATELY_IN_FOREIGN_CODE;
+#else
       octave_quit ();
+#endif
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/libinterp/corefcn/toplev.cc b/libinterp/corefcn/toplev.cc
--- a/libinterp/corefcn/toplev.cc
+++ b/libinterp/corefcn/toplev.cc
@@ -1037,6 +1037,7 @@
                 }
               else
                 retval(0) = pid;
+
 #elif defined (__WIN32__)
               STARTUPINFO si;
               PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;
@@ -1058,9 +1059,21 @@
 #endif
             }
           else if (return_output)
-            retval = run_command_and_return_output (cmd_str);
+            {
+#if defined (__WIN32__)
+              BEGIN_INTERRUPT_IMMEDIATELY_IN_FOREIGN_CODE;
+#endif
+              retval = run_command_and_return_output (cmd_str);
+
+#if defined (__WIN32__)
+              END_INTERRUPT_IMMEDIATELY_IN_FOREIGN_CODE;
+#endif
+            }
           else
             {
+#if defined (__WIN32__)
+              BEGIN_INTERRUPT_IMMEDIATELY_IN_FOREIGN_CODE;
+#endif
               int status = system (cmd_str.c_str ());
 
               // The value in status is as returned by waitpid.  If
@@ -1072,6 +1085,10 @@
                 status = octave_wait::exitstatus (status);
 
               retval(0) = status;
+
+#if defined (__WIN32__)
+              END_INTERRUPT_IMMEDIATELY_IN_FOREIGN_CODE;
+#endif
             }
         }
       else