diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/parts/execution/electron-browser/terminal.ts b/src/vs/workbench/parts/execution/electron-browser/terminal.ts
index 5027154e5ad6d..be37fdd4c3782 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/parts/execution/electron-browser/terminal.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/parts/execution/electron-browser/terminal.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_TERMINAL_LINUX_READY = new TPromise<string>(c => {
 
 export const DEFAULT_TERMINAL_OSX = 'Terminal.app';
 
-export const DEFAULT_TERMINAL_WINDOWS = '%COMSPEC%';
+export const DEFAULT_TERMINAL_WINDOWS = `${process.env.windir}\\${process.env.hasOwnProperty('PROCESSOR_ARCHITEW6432') ? 'Sysnative' : 'System32'}\\cmd.exe`;
 
 export interface ITerminalConfiguration {
 	terminal: {