diff --git a/src/SDL_assert.c b/src/SDL_assert.c
index 76f5d604d..bee07a9ed 100644
--- a/src/SDL_assert.c
+++ b/src/SDL_assert.c
@@ -123,7 +123,11 @@ static void SDL_GenerateAssertionReport(void)
 static SDL_NORETURN void SDL_ExitProcess(int exitcode)
 {
 #ifdef __WIN32__
-    ExitProcess(exitcode);
+    /* "if you do not know the state of all threads in your process, it is
+       better to call TerminateProcess than ExitProcess"
+       https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms682658(v=vs.85).aspx */
+    TerminateProcess(GetCurrentProcess(), exitcode);
+
 #elif defined(__EMSCRIPTEN__)
     emscripten_cancel_main_loop();  /* this should "kill" the app. */
     emscripten_force_exit(exitcode);  /* this should "kill" the app. */