diff --git a/cmd/azemu/adapter.go b/cmd/azemu/adapter.go
index 49bd4f5..f4f6d95 100644
--- a/cmd/azemu/adapter.go
+++ b/cmd/azemu/adapter.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/rs/zerolog/log"
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ func execBinary(name string, args []string) error {
 	log.Info().Str("binary", bin).Strs("args", args).Msg("exec")
 
 	argv := append([]string{name}, args...)
-	return syscall.Exec(bin, argv, os.Environ())
+	return execProcess(bin, argv, os.Environ())
 }
 
 // probeHealth sends a single GET to the health endpoint and returns true if
@@ -111,9 +110,7 @@ func startAzemuBackground() (*os.Process, error) {
 	proc, err := os.StartProcess(self, []string{"azemu", "serve"}, &os.ProcAttr{
 		Env:   os.Environ(),
 		Files: []*os.File{os.Stdin, logFile, logFile},
-		Sys: &syscall.SysProcAttr{
-			Setsid: true,
-		},
+		Sys:   detachSysProcAttr(),
 	})
 	logFile.Close()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/azemu/adapter_unix.go b/cmd/azemu/adapter_unix.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f5d50f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/azemu/adapter_unix.go
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+//go:build !windows
+
+package main
+
+import "syscall"
+
+// execProcess replaces the current process image with the named binary, the
+// classic exec(3) behaviour. On success it never returns.
+func execProcess(bin string, argv, env []string) error {
+	return syscall.Exec(bin, argv, env)
+}
+
+// detachSysProcAttr starts the child in its own session (setsid) so it
+// survives the parent's exit and detaches from the controlling terminal.
+func detachSysProcAttr() *syscall.SysProcAttr {
+	return &syscall.SysProcAttr{Setsid: true}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/azemu/adapter_windows.go b/cmd/azemu/adapter_windows.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e811e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/azemu/adapter_windows.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+//go:build windows
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"syscall"
+)
+
+// execProcess emulates Unix exec on Windows, which has no execve. It runs the
+// binary as a child inheriting stdio, waits for it, and exits with the child's
+// exit code so the wrapper is transparent to the caller.
+func execProcess(bin string, argv, env []string) error {
+	cmd := exec.Command(bin, argv[1:]...) //nolint:gosec // bin is resolved via exec.LookPath
+	cmd.Args = argv
+	cmd.Env = env
+	cmd.Stdin = os.Stdin
+	cmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
+	cmd.Stderr = os.Stderr
+
+	if err := cmd.Run(); err != nil {
+		var exit *exec.ExitError
+		if errors.As(err, &exit) {
+			os.Exit(exit.ExitCode())
+		}
+		return err
+	}
+	os.Exit(0)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// detachSysProcAttr starts the child in a new process group so it is not killed
+// when the parent's console closes. Windows has no setsid equivalent.
+func detachSysProcAttr() *syscall.SysProcAttr {
+	return &syscall.SysProcAttr{CreationFlags: 0x00000200} // CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP
+}