diff --git a/src/demon/win32/demon_core_win32.c b/src/demon/win32/demon_core_win32.c
index 2742830f..c7f0ec9e 100644
--- a/src/demon/win32/demon_core_win32.c
+++ b/src/demon/win32/demon_core_win32.c
@@ -1552,6 +1552,7 @@ dmn_ctrl_run(Arena *arena, DMN_CtrlCtx *ctx, DMN_RunCtrls *ctrls)
       //////////////////////////
       //- rjf: loop, consume win32 debug events until we produce the relevant demon events
       //
+      U64 begin_time = os_now_microseconds();
       String8List debug_strings = {0};
       for(B32 keep_going = 1; keep_going;)
       {
@@ -2198,6 +2199,14 @@ dmn_ctrl_run(Arena *arena, DMN_CtrlCtx *ctx, DMN_RunCtrls *ctrls)
             }break;
           }
         }
+        
+        ////////////////////////
+        //- rjf: exit loop after a little while, so we keep pumping e.g. debug strings
+        //
+        if(os_now_microseconds() >= begin_time+100000)
+        {
+          keep_going = 0;
+        }
       }
       
       ////////////////////////