diff --git a/changes/bug10297 b/changes/bug10297
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4cdd80f83b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug10297
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+  o Minor features:
+    - Spawn background processes using the CREATE_NO_WINDOW flag on
+      Windows, in order to prevent a console window from appearing.
+      Resolves ticket 10297.
diff --git a/src/common/util.c b/src/common/util.c
index ae3f69b5e3..054de3dbe9 100644
--- a/src/common/util.c
+++ b/src/common/util.c
@@ -3803,7 +3803,7 @@ tor_spawn_background(const char *const filename, const char **argv,
                  TRUE,          // handles are inherited
   /*(TODO: set CREATE_NEW CONSOLE/PROCESS_GROUP to make GetExitCodeProcess()
    * work?) */
-                 0,             // creation flags
+                 CREATE_NO_WINDOW,             // creation flags
                  (env==NULL) ? NULL : env->windows_environment_block,
                  NULL,          // use parent's current directory
                  &siStartInfo,  // STARTUPINFO pointer