diff --git a/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake b/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake
index e06164570..7909c56b7 100644
--- a/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake
+++ b/code/CMakeModules/nel.cmake
@@ -68,11 +68,30 @@ MACRO(NL_DEFAULT_PROPS name label)
   ENDIF(${type} STREQUAL SHARED_LIBRARY)
 
   IF(${type} STREQUAL EXECUTABLE AND WIN32 AND NOT MINGW)
+    # check if using a GUI
+    GET_TARGET_PROPERTY(_VALUE ${name} WIN32_EXECUTABLE)
+
+    IF(TARGET_X64)
+      # Target Windows XP 64 bits
+      SET(_SUBSYSTEM_VERSION "5.02")
+    ELSE()
+      # Target Windows XP
+      SET(_SUBSYSTEM_VERSION "5.01")
+    ENDIF()
+
+    IF(_VALUE)
+      # GUI
+      SET(_SUBSYSTEM "WINDOWS")
+    ELSE()
+      # Console
+      SET(_SUBSYSTEM "CONSOLE")
+    ENDIF()
+
     SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(${name} PROPERTIES
       VERSION ${NL_VERSION}
       SOVERSION ${NL_VERSION_MAJOR}
       COMPILE_FLAGS "/GA"
-      LINK_FLAGS "/VERSION:${NL_VERSION_MAJOR}.${NL_VERSION_MINOR}")
+      LINK_FLAGS "/VERSION:${NL_VERSION_MAJOR}.${NL_VERSION_MINOR} /SUBSYSTEM:${_SUBSYSTEM},${_SUBSYSTEM_VERSION}")
   ENDIF(${type} STREQUAL EXECUTABLE AND WIN32 AND NOT MINGW)
 ENDMACRO(NL_DEFAULT_PROPS)