diff --git a/src/win/win.c b/src/win/win.c
index e8d2af475..77df9d3d5 100644
--- a/src/win/win.c
+++ b/src/win/win.c
@@ -847,7 +847,10 @@ LPARAM win_get_string(int id)
 void	/* plat_ */
 startblit(void)
 {
-    WaitForSingleObject(ghMutex, INFINITE);
+    DWORD ret = WaitForSingleObject(ghMutex, 1000);
+
+    if(ret == WAIT_TIMEOUT)
+	fatal("The blit mutex has timed out.");
 }