diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 4c1080ae342..9c083e2d024 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ What's New in Python 2.6 alpha 1?
 Core and builtins
 -----------------
 
+- Issue #1069410: The "can't load dll" message box on Windows is 
+  suppressed while an extension is loaded by calling SetErrorMode in
+  dynload_win.c. The error is still reported properly.
+
 - Bug #1915: Python compiles with --enable-unicode=no again. However
   several extension methods and modules do not work without unicode
   support.
diff --git a/Python/dynload_win.c b/Python/dynload_win.c
index 751790da2b1..7c71d9c198f 100644
--- a/Python/dynload_win.c
+++ b/Python/dynload_win.c
@@ -171,11 +171,16 @@ dl_funcptr _PyImport_GetDynLoadFunc(const char *fqname, const char *shortname,
 		HINSTANCE hDLL = NULL;
 		char pathbuf[260];
 		LPTSTR dummy;
+		unsigned int old_mode;
 		/* We use LoadLibraryEx so Windows looks for dependent DLLs 
 		    in directory of pathname first.  However, Windows95
 		    can sometimes not work correctly unless the absolute
 		    path is used.  If GetFullPathName() fails, the LoadLibrary
 		    will certainly fail too, so use its error code */
+
+		/* Don't display a message box when Python can't load a DLL */
+		old_mode = SetErrorMode(SEM_FAILCRITICALERRORS);
+
 		if (GetFullPathName(pathname,
 				    sizeof(pathbuf),
 				    pathbuf,
@@ -183,6 +188,10 @@ dl_funcptr _PyImport_GetDynLoadFunc(const char *fqname, const char *shortname,
 			/* XXX This call doesn't exist in Windows CE */
 			hDLL = LoadLibraryEx(pathname, NULL,
 					     LOAD_WITH_ALTERED_SEARCH_PATH);
+
+		/* restore old error mode settings */
+		SetErrorMode(old_mode);
+
 		if (hDLL==NULL){
 			char errBuf[256];
 			unsigned int errorCode;