diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_editor.cc b/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_editor.cc
index 2aeb2dbe60..03d3e47264 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_editor.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_editor.cc
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ AudioRegionEditor::AudioRegionEditor (Session* s, boost::shared_ptr<AudioRegion>
 	: RegionEditor (s, r)
 	, _audio_region (r)
 	, gain_adjustment(accurate_coefficient_to_dB(_audio_region->scale_amplitude()), -40.0, +40.0, 0.1, 1.0, 0)
+#ifndef WIN32
 	, _peak_channel (false)
+#endif
 {
 
 	Gtk::HBox* b = Gtk::manage (new Gtk::HBox);
@@ -91,7 +93,7 @@ AudioRegionEditor::AudioRegionEditor (Session* s, boost::shared_ptr<AudioRegion>
 
 	PeakAmplitudeFound.connect (_peak_amplitude_connection, invalidator (*this), boost::bind (&AudioRegionEditor::peak_amplitude_found, this, _1), gui_context ());
 	pthread_create_and_store (X_("peak-amplitude"), &_peak_amplitude_thread_handle, _peak_amplitude_thread, this);
-	_peak_channel.deliver ('c');
+	signal_peak_thread ();
 }
 
 AudioRegionEditor::~AudioRegionEditor ()
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ AudioRegionEditor::region_changed (const PBD::PropertyChange& what_changed)
 
 	if (what_changed.contains (ARDOUR::Properties::start) || what_changed.contains (ARDOUR::Properties::length)) {
 		/* ask the peak thread to run again */
-		_peak_channel.deliver ('c');
+		signal_peak_thread ();
 	}
 }
 void
@@ -133,13 +135,33 @@ AudioRegionEditor::gain_adjustment_changed ()
 	}
 }
 
+void
+AudioRegionEditor::signal_peak_thread ()
+{
+#ifdef WIN32
+	m_peak_sem.post ();
+#else
+	_peak_channel.deliver ('c');
+#endif
+}
+
+void
+AudioRegionEditor::wait_for_signal ()
+{
+#ifdef WIN32
+	m_peak_sem.wait ();
+#else
+	char msg;
+	_peak_channel.receive (msg);
+#endif
+}
+
 void
 AudioRegionEditor::peak_amplitude_thread ()
 {
 	while (1) {
 		/* await instructions to run */
-		char msg;
-		_peak_channel.receive (msg);
+		wait_for_signal ();
 
 		/* compute peak amplitude and signal the fact */
 		PeakAmplitudeFound (accurate_coefficient_to_dB (_audio_region->maximum_amplitude ())); /* EMIT SIGNAL */
diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_editor.h b/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_editor.h
index dd65a3fb31..0d9292b483 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_editor.h
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/audio_region_editor.h
@@ -37,7 +37,11 @@
 #include <libgnomecanvas/libgnomecanvas.h>
 
 #include "pbd/signals.h"
+#ifdef WIN32
+#include "pbd/glib_semaphore.h"
+#else
 #include "pbd/crossthread.h"
+#endif
 
 #include "audio_clock.h"
 #include "ardour_dialog.h"
@@ -74,11 +78,17 @@ class AudioRegionEditor : public RegionEditor
 	Gtk::Label _peak_amplitude_label;
 	Gtk::Entry _peak_amplitude;
 
+	void signal_peak_thread ();
+	void wait_for_signal ();
 	pthread_t _peak_amplitude_thread_handle;
 	void peak_amplitude_found (double);
 	PBD::Signal1<void, double> PeakAmplitudeFound;
 	PBD::ScopedConnection _peak_amplitude_connection;
+#ifdef WIN32
+	PBD::GlibSemaphore m_peak_sem;
+#else
 	CrossThreadChannel _peak_channel;
+#endif
 };
 
 #endif /* __gtk_ardour_audio_region_edit_h__ */