diff --git a/RP_L4/RPL4.CPP b/RP_L4/RPL4.CPP
index bbbbc3c..16e522b 100644
--- a/RP_L4/RPL4.CPP
+++ b/RP_L4/RPL4.CPP
@@ -182,7 +182,13 @@ int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine
 
 	ShowWindow(hWnd, nShowCmd);
 #if !_DEBUG
-	ShowCursor(FALSE);
+	// Arcade pods have no mouse - but desktop/windowed play needs the
+	// cursor for the on-screen cockpit buttons, so hide it only when
+	// running fullscreen.
+	if (L4Application::GetFullscreen())
+	{
+		ShowCursor(FALSE);
+	}
 #endif
 
    //
@@ -277,7 +283,13 @@ int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine
       delete app_manager;
    }
 
-	ShowCursor(TRUE);
+#if !_DEBUG
+	// symmetric with the fullscreen-only hide at startup
+	if (L4Application::GetFullscreen())
+	{
+		ShowCursor(TRUE);
+	}
+#endif
 
    Stop_Registering();
    return Exit_Code;