diff --git a/direct/src/plugin/p3dX11SplashWindow.cxx b/direct/src/plugin/p3dX11SplashWindow.cxx
index f1afc5a15b..513458521e 100644
--- a/direct/src/plugin/p3dX11SplashWindow.cxx
+++ b/direct/src/plugin/p3dX11SplashWindow.cxx
@@ -681,10 +681,13 @@ subprocess_run() {
       }
     }
 
-    if (input_ready) {
+    do {
+      // Empty the pipe of whatever is in it.
       receive_command();
-    }
+      input_ready = _pipe_read.has_gdata();
+    } while (input_ready);
 
+    // Sleep a good amount in order not to lock up the system.
     struct timespec req;
     req.tv_sec = 0;
     req.tv_nsec = 50000000;  // 50 ms