diff --git a/hermes_cli/web_server.py b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
index f73a77bb655d..984c23f293dd 100644
--- a/hermes_cli/web_server.py
+++ b/hermes_cli/web_server.py
@@ -14962,7 +14962,12 @@ async def open_profile_terminal_endpoint(name: str):
         command = _profile_setup_command(name)
 
         if sys.platform.startswith("win"):
-            subprocess.Popen(["cmd.exe", "/c", "start", "", command])
+            # Hide the intermediate cmd.exe flash; `start` still opens a
+            # visible terminal for the profile setup command.
+            subprocess.Popen(
+                ["cmd.exe", "/c", "start", "", command],
+                creationflags=windows_hide_flags(),
+            )
         elif sys.platform == "darwin":
             escaped = command.replace("\\", "\\\\").replace('"', '\\"')
             applescript = (
diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py
index 2ae86afdf6c5..f47f210c2604 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_web_server.py
@@ -5452,14 +5452,25 @@ def test_profile_open_terminal_uses_windows_cmd(self, monkeypatch):
         (get_hermes_home() / "profiles" / "coder").mkdir(parents=True)
         calls = []
         monkeypatch.setattr(web_server.sys, "platform", "win32")
-        monkeypatch.setattr(web_server.subprocess, "Popen", lambda args, **kwargs: calls.append(args))
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            web_server,
+            "windows_hide_flags",
+            lambda: 0x08000000,
+        )
+        monkeypatch.setattr(
+            web_server.subprocess,
+            "Popen",
+            lambda args, **kwargs: calls.append((args, kwargs)),
+        )
 
         resp = self.client.post("/api/profiles/coder/open-terminal")
 
         assert resp.status_code == 200
         assert calls
-        assert calls[0][:4] == ["cmd.exe", "/c", "start", ""]
-        assert calls[0][-1] == "coder setup"
+        args, kwargs = calls[0]
+        assert args[:4] == ["cmd.exe", "/c", "start", ""]
+        assert args[-1] == "coder setup"
+        assert kwargs.get("creationflags") == 0x08000000
 
     def test_profiles_create_rejects_invalid_name(self):
         resp = self.client.post("/api/profiles", json={"name": "Has Spaces"})