diff --git a/lib/common_defs.h b/lib/common_defs.h
index 25501659ee..863a549dcd 100644
--- a/lib/common_defs.h
+++ b/lib/common_defs.h
@@ -73,6 +73,20 @@
 #define MODE_QUIT               6
 #define NGRAPHICS_MSGS  7
 
+// process priorities
+//
+#define PROCESS_PRIORITY_UNSPECIFIED    0
+#define PROCESS_PRIORITY_LOWEST     1
+    // win: IDLE; unix: 19
+#define PROCESS_PRIORITY_LOW        2
+    // win: BELOW_NORMAL; unix: 10
+#define PROCESS_PRIORITY_NORMAL     3
+    // win: NORMAL; unix: 0
+#define PROCESS_PRIORITY_HIGH       4
+    // win: ABOVE_NORMAL; unix: -10
+#define PROCESS_PRIORITY_HIGHEST    5
+    // win: HIGH; unix: -16
+
 // priorities for client messages
 //
 #define MSG_INFO            1
diff --git a/lib/proc_control.cpp b/lib/proc_control.cpp
index 0eeacb6388..c5f1dea954 100644
--- a/lib/proc_control.cpp
+++ b/lib/proc_control.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #endif
 #endif
 
+#include "common_defs.h"
 #include "procinfo.h"
 #include "str_util.h"
 #include "util.h"
@@ -249,3 +250,27 @@ void suspend_or_resume_process(int pid, bool resume) {
     ::kill(pid, resume?SIGCONT:SIGSTOP);
 #endif
 }
+
+// return OS-specific value associated with priority code
+//
+int process_priority_value(int priority) {
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    switch (priority) {
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_LOWEST: return IDLE_PRIORITY_CLASS;
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_LOW: return BELOW_NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS;
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_NORMAL: return NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS;
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_HIGH: return ABOVE_NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS;
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_HIGHEST: return HIGH_PRIORITY_CLASS;
+    }
+    return 0;
+#else
+    switch (priority) {
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_LOWEST: return 19;
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_LOW: return 10;
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_NORMAL: return 0;
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_HIGH: return -10;
+    case PROCESS_PRIORITY_HIGHEST: return -16;
+    }
+    return 0;
+#endif
+}
diff --git a/lib/proc_control.h b/lib/proc_control.h
index 7dd84308c0..0b3f547007 100644
--- a/lib/proc_control.h
+++ b/lib/proc_control.h
@@ -37,4 +37,6 @@ extern void kill_descendants(int child_pid=0);
 extern void suspend_or_resume_descendants(bool resume);
 extern void suspend_or_resume_process(int pid, bool resume);
 
+extern int process_priority_value(int);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/samples/wrapper/wrapper.cpp b/samples/wrapper/wrapper.cpp
index 4ed8c71f1f..55776d47f1 100644
--- a/samples/wrapper/wrapper.cpp
+++ b/samples/wrapper/wrapper.cpp
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ struct TASK {
     bool append_cmdline_args;
     bool multi_process;
     double time_limit;
-    bool no_priority_change;
+    int priority;
 
     // dynamic stuff follows
     double current_cpu_time;
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ int TASK::parse(XML_PARSER& xp) {
     multi_process = false;
     append_cmdline_args = false;
     time_limit = 0;
-    no_priority_change = false;
+    priority = PROCESS_PRIORITY_LOWEST;
 
     while (!xp.get_tag()) {
         if (!xp.is_tag) {
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ int TASK::parse(XML_PARSER& xp) {
         else if (xp.parse_bool("multi_process", multi_process)) continue;
         else if (xp.parse_bool("append_cmdline_args", append_cmdline_args)) continue;
         else if (xp.parse_double("time_limit", time_limit)) continue;
-        else if (xp.parse_bool("no_priority_change", no_priority_change)) continue;
+        else if (xp.parse_int("priority", priority)) continue;
     }
     return ERR_XML_PARSE;
 }
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ int TASK::run(int argct, char** argvt) {
         NULL,
         NULL,
         TRUE,        // bInheritHandles
-        CREATE_NO_WINDOW|(no_priority_change?0:IDLE_PRIORITY_CLASS),
+        CREATE_NO_WINDOW|process_priority_value(priority),
         (LPVOID) env_vars,
         exec_dir.empty()?NULL:exec_dir.c_str(),
         &startup_info,
@@ -772,9 +772,7 @@ int TASK::run(int argct, char** argvt) {
         argv[0] = app_path;
         strlcpy(arglist, command_line.c_str(), sizeof(arglist));
         parse_command_line(arglist, argv+1);
-        if (!no_priority_change) {
-            setpriority(PRIO_PROCESS, 0, PROCESS_IDLE_PRIORITY);
-        }
+        setpriority(PRIO_PROCESS, 0, process_priority_value(priority));
         if (!exec_dir.empty()) {
             retval = chdir(exec_dir.c_str());
             if (!retval) {
diff --git a/win_build/wrapper.vcxproj b/win_build/wrapper.vcxproj
index 926786d832..e50894b4b9 100644
--- a/win_build/wrapper.vcxproj
+++ b/win_build/wrapper.vcxproj
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@
     <CodeAnalysisRuleAssemblies Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'" />
     <TargetName Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|x64'">wrapper_26011_windows_x86_64</TargetName>
     <TargetName Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'">wrapper_26011_windows_intelx86</TargetName>
+    <TargetName Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Debug|x64'">wrapper_6.1_windows_x86_64</TargetName>
   </PropertyGroup>
   <ItemDefinitionGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)'=='Release|Win32'">
     <Midl>