diff --git a/src/netxs/desktopio/system.hpp b/src/netxs/desktopio/system.hpp
index 2a432a31f..0dc9efe62 100644
--- a/src/netxs/desktopio/system.hpp
+++ b/src/netxs/desktopio/system.hpp
@@ -3377,7 +3377,7 @@ namespace netxs::os
             }
             return winsz;
         }
-        auto initialize()
+        auto initialize(bool trygui = faux)
         {
             #if defined(_WIN32)
                 os::stdin_fd  = fd_t{ ptr::test(::GetStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE ), os::invalid_fd) };
@@ -3488,18 +3488,20 @@ namespace netxs::os
             }
             else
             {
-                ok(::FreeConsole(), "::FreeConsole()", os::unexpected);
-                if (::AttachConsole(ATTACH_PARENT_PROCESS))
+                if (trygui)
                 {
-                    os::stdin_fd  = fd_t{ ptr::test(::GetStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE ), os::invalid_fd) };
-                    os::stdout_fd = fd_t{ ptr::test(::GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), os::invalid_fd) };
-                    os::stderr_fd = fd_t{ ptr::test(::GetStdHandle(STD_ERROR_HANDLE ), os::invalid_fd) };
-                }
-                else
-                {
-                    // Run gui console.
-                    ::MessageBoxW(NULL, L"Run GUI-console.", L"Run GUI-console.", MB_OK);
-                    os::process::exit<true>(0);
+                    if (::FreeConsole() && ::AttachConsole(ATTACH_PARENT_PROCESS)) // We are hosted by shell.
+                    {
+                        os::stdin_fd  = fd_t{ ptr::test(::GetStdHandle(STD_INPUT_HANDLE ), os::invalid_fd) };
+                        os::stdout_fd = fd_t{ ptr::test(::GetStdHandle(STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE), os::invalid_fd) };
+                        os::stderr_fd = fd_t{ ptr::test(::GetStdHandle(STD_ERROR_HANDLE ), os::invalid_fd) };
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        // Run gui console.
+                        ::MessageBoxW(NULL, L"Run GUI-console.", L"Run GUI-console.", MB_OK);
+                        os::process::exit<true>(0);
+                    }
                 }
 
                 dtvt::win_sz = dtvt::consize();
diff --git a/src/vtm.cpp b/src/vtm.cpp
index fca5911b4..3d8179f73 100644
--- a/src/vtm.cpp
+++ b/src/vtm.cpp
@@ -201,7 +201,8 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
         }
     }
 
-    os::dtvt::initialize();
+    auto trygui = whoami == type::runapp || whoami == type::client;
+    os::dtvt::initialize(trygui);
     os::dtvt::checkpoint();
 
     if (os::dtvt::vtmode & ui::console::redirio && (whoami == type::runapp || whoami == type::client))