diff --git a/lib/pure/os.nim b/lib/pure/os.nim
index 969a549de1640..32fa2885eaceb 100644
--- a/lib/pure/os.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/os.nim
@@ -1287,13 +1287,16 @@ proc moveFile*(source, dest: string) {.rtl, extern: "nos$1",
         discard tryRemoveFile(dest)
         raise
 
-proc exitStatusLikeShell*(status: cint): cint {.noNimScript.} =
+proc exitStatusLikeShell*(status: cint): cint =
   ## converts exit code from `c_system` into a shell exit code
-  if WIFSIGNALED(status):
-    # like the shell!
-    128 + WTERMSIG(status)
+  when defined(posix) and not weirdTarget:
+    if WIFSIGNALED(status):
+      # like the shell!
+      128 + WTERMSIG(status)
+    else:
+      WEXITSTATUS(status)
   else:
-    WEXITSTATUS(status)
+    status
 
 proc execShellCmd*(command: string): int {.rtl, extern: "nos$1",
   tags: [ExecIOEffect], noNimScript.} =
@@ -1303,12 +1306,8 @@ proc execShellCmd*(command: string): int {.rtl, extern: "nos$1",
   ## line arguments given to program. The proc returns the error code
   ## of the shell when it has finished. The proc does not return until
   ## the process has finished. To execute a program without having a
-  ## shell involved, use the `execProcess` proc of the `osproc`
-  ## module.
-  when defined(posix):
-    result = exitStatusLikeShell(c_system(command))
-  else:
-    result = c_system(command)
+  ## shell involved, use `osproc.execProcess`.
+  result = exitStatusLikeShell(c_system(command))
 
 # Templates for filtering directories and files
 when defined(windows) and not weirdTarget:
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/tosproc.nim b/tests/stdlib/tosproc.nim
index 55d4659f71228..72f0e1060d350 100644
--- a/tests/stdlib/tosproc.nim
+++ b/tests/stdlib/tosproc.nim
@@ -1,10 +1,7 @@
-discard """
-  output: ""
-"""
 # test the osproc module
 
-import compiler/unittest_light
 import std/special_paths
+import "../.." / compiler/unittest_light
 
 when defined(case_testfile): # compiled test file for child process
   from posix import exitnow
@@ -75,7 +72,8 @@ else:
     runTest("c_exit2_139", 139)
     runTest("quit_139", 139)
     runTest("exit_array", 1)
-    runTest("exit_recursion", SIGSEGV.int + 128) # bug #10273: was returning 0
+    when defined(posix): # on windows, -1073741571
+      runTest("exit_recursion", SIGSEGV.int + 128) # bug #10273: was returning 0
 
     assertEquals exitStatusLikeShell(SIGSEGV), SIGSEGV + 128.cint