diff --git a/deploy/backup_live_db.py b/deploy/backup_live_db.py
index ee1bf52..80b8963 100644
--- a/deploy/backup_live_db.py
+++ b/deploy/backup_live_db.py
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 from zoneinfo import ZoneInfo
 
+# pg_dump/pg_restore are console programs: launched from pythonw they would pop a console window,
+# and closing that window kills the dump (exit 0xC000013A, seen 2026-10-06). Run them windowless.
+NO_WINDOW = getattr(subprocess, "CREATE_NO_WINDOW", 0)
+
 ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parent.parent
 PG_BIN = Path(os.environ.get("PG_BIN", r"C:\Users\Admin\pgsql18\bin"))
 OUT = Path(os.environ.get("LIVE_BACKUP_DIR", r"C:\Users\Admin\momentum-backups"))
@@ -44,9 +48,11 @@ def main() -> int:
     try:
         subprocess.run([str(PG_BIN / "pg_dump.exe"), "-h", u.hostname, "-p", str(PORT), "-U", u.username,
                         "-d", u.path[1:], "-Fc", "-Z", "6", "-f", str(dump)],
-                       env=env, check=True, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=3600)
+                       env=env, check=True, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=3600,
+                       creationflags=NO_WINDOW)
         listing = subprocess.run([str(PG_BIN / "pg_restore.exe"), "--list", str(dump)],
-                                 check=True, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=600).stdout
+                                 check=True, capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=600,
+                                 creationflags=NO_WINDOW).stdout
         missing = [m for m in MUST_HAVE if m not in listing]
         if missing:
             raise RuntimeError(f"dump is missing {missing}")