diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/splash_screen.py b/src/calibre/gui2/splash_screen.py
index 505d8a87b7..7d8e688b63 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/splash_screen.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/splash_screen.py
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 from __future__ import (unicode_literals, division, absolute_import,
                         print_function)
 
-from PyQt5.Qt import Qt, QSplashScreen, QIcon, QApplication, QTransform
+from PyQt5.Qt import Qt, QSplashScreen, QIcon, QApplication, QTransform, QPainterPath, QBrush
 
-from calibre.constants import __appname__
+from calibre.constants import __appname__, iswindows
 from calibre.utils.monotonic import monotonic
 
 class SplashScreen(QSplashScreen):
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ class SplashScreen(QSplashScreen):
         painter.save()
         painter.setPen(Qt.black)
         painter.setRenderHint(painter.TextAntialiasing, True)
+        painter.setRenderHint(painter.Antialiasing, True)
         f = painter.font()
         f.setPixelSize(18)
         painter.setFont(f)
@@ -31,7 +32,13 @@ class SplashScreen(QSplashScreen):
         t.translate(330, 450)
         painter.setTransform(t)
         painter.rotate(-98)
-        painter.drawText(0, 0, self.message())
+        if iswindows:
+            # On windows Qt cannot anti-alias rotated text
+            p = QPainterPath()
+            p.addText(0, 0, f, self.message())
+            painter.fillPath(p, QBrush(Qt.black))
+        else:
+            painter.drawText(0, 0, self.message())
         painter.restore()
 
     def show_message(self, msg):
@@ -51,10 +58,13 @@ class SplashScreen(QSplashScreen):
         ev.accept()
         QApplication.instance().quit()
 
-if __name__ == '__main__':
+def main():
     from calibre.gui2 import Application
     app = Application([])
     spl = SplashScreen(develop=True)
     spl.show()
     spl.show_message('Testing the splash screen message...')
     app.exec_()
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()