diff --git a/libraries/Desktop/support/main.cpp b/libraries/Desktop/support/main.cpp
index 6207bdd38b..57dc7d618d 100644
--- a/libraries/Desktop/support/main.cpp
+++ b/libraries/Desktop/support/main.cpp
@@ -83,6 +83,12 @@ int main(int argc, char * const argv[])
 		struct timeval tv;
 		fd_set fds;
 		int fd_high = 0;
+        
+#ifdef __CYGWIN__
+        // under windows if this loop is using alot of cpu,
+        // the alarm gets called at a slower rate.
+        sleep(5);
+#endif
 
 		FD_ZERO(&fds);
 		loop();
diff --git a/libraries/Desktop/support/sitl.cpp b/libraries/Desktop/support/sitl.cpp
index bea1f18fd2..7e0976620a 100644
--- a/libraries/Desktop/support/sitl.cpp
+++ b/libraries/Desktop/support/sitl.cpp
@@ -231,6 +231,17 @@ static void timer_handler(int signum)
 	if (kill(parent_pid, 0) != 0) {
 		exit(1);
 	}
+#else
+    
+    static uint16_t count = 0;
+    static uint32_t last_report;
+        
+    	count++;
+		if (millis() - last_report > 1000) {
+			printf("TH %u cps\n", count);
+			count = 0;
+			last_report = millis();
+		}
 #endif
 
 	/* check for packet from flight sim */