diff --git a/control/controlclient/hostinfo_windows.go b/control/controlclient/hostinfo_windows.go
index 07cb4ce4e..07a5d4006 100644
--- a/control/controlclient/hostinfo_windows.go
+++ b/control/controlclient/hostinfo_windows.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ package controlclient
 import (
 	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"syscall"
 )
 
@@ -14,7 +15,12 @@ func init() {
 	osVersion = osVersionWindows
 }
 
+var winVerCache atomic.Value // of string
+
 func osVersionWindows() string {
+	if s, ok := winVerCache.Load().(string); ok {
+		return s
+	}
 	cmd := exec.Command("cmd", "/c", "ver")
 	cmd.SysProcAttr = &syscall.SysProcAttr{HideWindow: true}
 	out, _ := cmd.Output() // "\nMicrosoft Windows [Version 10.0.19041.388]\n\n"
@@ -26,5 +32,8 @@ func osVersionWindows() string {
 	if sp := strings.Index(s, " "); sp != -1 {
 		s = s[sp+1:]
 	}
+	if s != "" {
+		winVerCache.Store(s)
+	}
 	return s // "10.0.19041.388", ideally
 }