diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index ee2e45a..347a27e 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -319,10 +319,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "log-panics",
  "maplit",
  "markdown",
+ "named_pipe",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "simplelog",
  "thiserror",
+ "winapi",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -612,9 +614,9 @@ checksum = "830d08ce1d1d941e6b30645f1a0eb5643013d835ce3779a5fc208261dbe10f55"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libc"
-version = "0.2.85"
+version = "0.2.94"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "7ccac4b00700875e6a07c6cde370d44d32fa01c5a65cdd2fca6858c479d28bb3"
+checksum = "18794a8ad5b29321f790b55d93dfba91e125cb1a9edbd4f8e3150acc771c1a5e"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "libdbus-sys"
diff --git a/espanso/Cargo.toml b/espanso/Cargo.toml
index 2439ed6..89f246f 100644
--- a/espanso/Cargo.toml
+++ b/espanso/Cargo.toml
@@ -39,4 +39,8 @@ serde_json = "1.0.62"
 markdown = "0.3.0"
 html2text = "0.2.1"
 log-panics = "2.0.0"
-fs2 = "0.4.3"
\ No newline at end of file
+fs2 = "0.4.3"
+
+[target.'cfg(windows)'.dependencies]
+named_pipe = "0.4.1"
+winapi = { version = "0.3.9", features = ["wincon"] }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/daemon/ipc.rs b/espanso/src/cli/daemon/ipc.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..efee57d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/daemon/ipc.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/*
+ * This file is part of espanso.
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2019-2021 Federico Terzi
+ *
+ * espanso is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * espanso is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+use std::path::Path;
+
+use anyhow::Result;
+use crossbeam::channel::{Sender};
+use log::{error, warn};
+
+use crate::ipc::IPCEvent;
+
+use super::ExitCode;
+
+pub fn initialize_and_spawn(runtime_dir: &Path, exit_notify: Sender<i32>) -> Result<()> {
+  let receiver = crate::ipc::spawn_daemon_ipc_server(runtime_dir)?;
+
+  std::thread::Builder::new()
+    .name("daemon-ipc-handler".to_string())
+    .spawn(move || loop {
+      match receiver.recv() {
+        Ok(event) => {
+          match event {
+            IPCEvent::Exit => {
+              if let Err(err) = exit_notify.send(ExitCode::Success as i32) {
+                error!("experienced error while sending exit signal from daemon ipc handler: {}", err);
+              }
+            },
+            unexpected_event => {
+              warn!("received unexpected event in daemon ipc handler: {:?}", unexpected_event);
+            },
+          }
+        }
+        Err(err) => {
+          error!("experienced error while receiving ipc event from daemon handler: {}", err);
+        }
+      }
+    })?;
+
+  Ok(())
+}
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs
index c843762..e35427e 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/daemon/mod.rs
@@ -19,20 +19,35 @@
 
 use std::{path::Path, process::Command, time::Instant};
 
+use crossbeam::{
+  channel::{unbounded, Sender},
+  select,
+};
 use espanso_ipc::IPCClient;
+use espanso_path::Paths;
 use log::{error, info, warn};
 
-use crate::{ipc::{IPCEvent, create_ipc_client_to_worker}, lock::{acquire_daemon_lock, acquire_worker_lock}};
+use crate::{
+  ipc::{create_ipc_client_to_worker, IPCEvent},
+  lock::{acquire_daemon_lock, acquire_worker_lock},
+};
 
 use super::{CliModule, CliModuleArgs};
 
+mod ipc;
+
+pub enum ExitCode {
+  Success = 0,
+  ExitCodeUnwrapError = 100,
+}
+
 pub fn new() -> CliModule {
   #[allow(clippy::needless_update)]
   CliModule {
     requires_paths: true,
     requires_config: true,
     enable_logs: true,
-    log_mode: super::LogMode::Write,
+    log_mode: super::LogMode::CleanAndAppend,
     subcommand: "daemon".to_string(),
     entry: daemon_main,
     ..Default::default()
@@ -41,16 +56,18 @@ pub fn new() -> CliModule {
 
 const VERSION: &str = env!("CARGO_PKG_VERSION");
 
-fn daemon_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
+fn daemon_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
   let paths = args.paths.expect("missing paths in daemon main");
 
   // Make sure only one instance of the daemon is running
   let lock_file = acquire_daemon_lock(&paths.runtime);
   if lock_file.is_none() {
     error!("daemon is already running!");
-    std::process::exit(1);
+    return 1;
   }
 
+  // TODO: we might need to check preconditions: accessibility on macOS, presence of binaries on Linux, etc
+
   info!("espanso version: {}", VERSION);
   // TODO: print os system and version? (with os_info crate)
 
@@ -59,13 +76,74 @@ fn daemon_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
 
   terminate_worker_if_already_running(&paths.runtime, worker_ipc);
 
+  let (exit_notify, exit_signal) = unbounded::<i32>();
+
   // TODO: register signals to terminate the worker if the daemon terminates
 
+  spawn_worker(&paths, exit_notify.clone());
+
+  ipc::initialize_and_spawn(&paths.runtime, exit_notify)
+    .expect("unable to initialize ipc server for daemon");
+
+  // TODO: start file watcher thread
+
+  let mut exit_code: i32 = ExitCode::Success as i32;
+
+  loop {
+    select! {
+      recv(exit_signal) -> code => {
+        match code {
+          Ok(code) => {
+            exit_code = code
+          },
+          Err(err) => {
+            error!("received error when unwrapping exit_code: {}", err);
+            exit_code = ExitCode::ExitCodeUnwrapError as i32;
+          },
+        }
+        break;
+      },
+    }
+  }
+
+  exit_code
+}
+
+fn terminate_worker_if_already_running(runtime_dir: &Path, worker_ipc: impl IPCClient<IPCEvent>) {
+  let lock_file = acquire_worker_lock(&runtime_dir);
+  if lock_file.is_some() {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  warn!("a worker process is already running, sending termination signal...");
+  if let Err(err) = worker_ipc.send(IPCEvent::Exit) {
+    error!(
+      "unable to send termination signal to worker process: {}",
+      err
+    );
+  }
+
+  let now = Instant::now();
+  while now.elapsed() < std::time::Duration::from_secs(3) {
+    let lock_file = acquire_worker_lock(runtime_dir);
+    if lock_file.is_some() {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(200));
+  }
+
+  panic!(
+    "could not terminate worker process, please kill it manually, otherwise espanso won't start"
+  )
+}
+
+fn spawn_worker(paths: &Paths, exit_notify: Sender<i32>) {
+  info!("spawning the worker process...");
+
   let espanso_exe_path =
     std::env::current_exe().expect("unable to obtain espanso executable location");
 
-  info!("spawning the worker process...");
-
   let mut command = Command::new(&espanso_exe_path.to_string_lossy().to_string());
   command.args(&["worker"]);
   command.env(
@@ -81,44 +159,35 @@ fn daemon_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
     paths.runtime.to_string_lossy().to_string(),
   );
 
-  // On windows, we need to spawn the process as "Detached"
-  #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-  {
-    use std::os::windows::process::CommandExt;
-    command.creation_flags(0x08000008); // Detached process without window
-  }
+  // TODO: investigate if this is needed here, especially when invoking a form
+  // // On windows, we need to spawn the process as "Detached"
+  // #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+  // {
+  //   use std::os::windows::process::CommandExt;
+  //   //command.creation_flags(0x08000008); // CREATE_NO_WINDOW + DETACHED_PROCESS
+  // }
 
-  command.spawn().expect("unable to spawn worker process");
+  let mut child = command.spawn().expect("unable to spawn worker process");
 
-  // TODO: start IPC server
-
-  // TODO: start file watcher thread
-
-  loop {
-    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(1000));
-  }
+  // Create a monitor thread that will exit with the same non-zero code if
+  // the worker thread exits
+  std::thread::Builder::new()
+    .name("worker-status-monitor".to_string())
+    .spawn(move || {
+      let result = child.wait();
+      if let Ok(status) = result {
+        if let Some(code) = status.code() {
+          if code != 0 {
+            error!(
+              "worker process exited with non-zero code: {}, exiting",
+              code
+            );
+            exit_notify
+              .send(code)
+              .expect("unable to forward worker exit code");
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    })
+    .expect("Unable to spawn worker monitor thread");
 }
-
-fn terminate_worker_if_already_running(runtime_dir: &Path, worker_ipc: impl IPCClient<IPCEvent>) {
-  let lock_file = acquire_worker_lock(&runtime_dir);
-  if lock_file.is_some() {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  warn!("a worker process is already running, sending termination signal...");
-  if let Err(err) = worker_ipc.send(IPCEvent::Exit) {
-    error!("unable to send termination signal to worker process: {}", err);
-  }
-
-  let now = Instant::now();
-  while now.elapsed() < std::time::Duration::from_secs(3) {
-    let lock_file = acquire_worker_lock(runtime_dir);
-    if lock_file.is_some() {
-      return;
-    }
-
-    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_millis(200));
-  } 
-
-  panic!("could not terminate worker process, please kill it manually, otherwise espanso won't start")
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/log.rs b/espanso/src/cli/log.rs
index ab0bd28..ea47489 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/log.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/log.rs
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ pub fn new() -> CliModule {
   }
 }
 
-fn log_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
+fn log_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
   let paths = args.paths.expect("missing paths argument");
   let log_file = paths.runtime.join(crate::LOG_FILE_NAME);
 
   if !log_file.exists() {
     eprintln!("No log file found.");
-    std::process::exit(2);
+    return 2;
   }
 
   let log_file = File::open(log_file);
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ fn log_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
     }
   } else {
     eprintln!("Error reading log file");
-    std::process::exit(1);
+    return 1;
   }
+
+  0
 }
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/mod.rs
index c1da747..7cd1633 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/mod.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ pub struct CliModule {
   pub requires_paths: bool,
   pub requires_config: bool,
   pub subcommand: String,
-  pub entry: fn(CliModuleArgs),
+  pub entry: fn(CliModuleArgs)->i32,
 }
 
 impl Default for CliModule {
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ impl Default for CliModule {
       requires_paths: false, 
       requires_config: false, 
       subcommand: "".to_string(), 
-      entry: |_| {},
+      entry: |_| {0},
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/path.rs b/espanso/src/cli/path.rs
index e5a276b..e80717e 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/path.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/path.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ pub fn new() -> CliModule {
   }
 }
 
-fn path_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
+fn path_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
   let paths = args.paths.expect("missing paths argument");
   let cli_args = args.cli_args.expect("missing cli_args argument");
 
@@ -56,4 +56,6 @@ fn path_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
     println!("Packages: {}", paths.packages.to_string_lossy());
     println!("Runtime: {}", paths.runtime.to_string_lossy());
   }
+  
+  0
 }
diff --git a/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs b/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
index 840005b..7d445d2 100644
--- a/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/cli/worker/mod.rs
@@ -37,21 +37,21 @@ pub fn new() -> CliModule {
     requires_paths: true,
     requires_config: true,
     enable_logs: true,
-    log_mode: super::LogMode::Append,
+    log_mode: super::LogMode::AppendOnly,
     subcommand: "worker".to_string(),
     entry: worker_main,
     ..Default::default()
   }
 }
 
-fn worker_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
+fn worker_main(args: CliModuleArgs) -> i32 {
   let paths = args.paths.expect("missing paths in worker main");
 
   // Avoid running multiple worker instances
   let lock_file = acquire_worker_lock(&paths.runtime);
   if lock_file.is_none() {
     error!("worker is already running!");
-    std::process::exit(1);
+    return 1;
   }
 
   let config_store = args
@@ -101,4 +101,6 @@ fn worker_main(args: CliModuleArgs) {
   }));
 
   info!("exiting worker process...");
+   
+  0
 }
diff --git a/espanso/src/main.rs b/espanso/src/main.rs
index 2d8c2f4..0e3ff4b 100644
--- a/espanso/src/main.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/main.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
  */
 
 // This is needed to avoid showing a console window when starting espanso on Windows
-// TODO #![windows_subsystem = "windows"]
+#![windows_subsystem = "windows"]
 
 #[macro_use]
 extern crate lazy_static;
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ lazy_static! {
 }
 
 fn main() {
-  // TODO: attach console
+  util::attach_console();
 
   let install_subcommand = SubCommand::with_name("install")
     .about("Install a package. Equivalent to 'espanso package install'")
@@ -325,7 +325,9 @@ fn main() {
       cli_args.cli_args = Some(args.clone());
     }
 
-    (handler.entry)(cli_args)
+    let exit_code = (handler.entry)(cli_args);
+
+    std::process::exit(exit_code);
   } else {
     clap_instance
       .print_long_help()
diff --git a/espanso/src/util.rs b/espanso/src/util.rs
index 99a9251..d5bea46 100644
--- a/espanso/src/util.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/util.rs
@@ -30,4 +30,16 @@ pub fn set_command_flags(command: &mut Command) {
 #[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
 pub fn set_command_flags(_: &mut Command) {
   // NOOP on Linux and macOS
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+pub fn attach_console() {
+  // When using the windows subsystem we loose the terminal output.
+  // Therefore we try to attach to the current console if available.
+  unsafe { winapi::um::wincon::AttachConsole(0xFFFFFFFF) };
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(target_os = "windows"))]
+pub fn attach_console() {
+  // Not necessary on Linux and macOS
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packager/win/espanso.cmd b/packager/win/espanso.cmd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..83de66f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packager/win/espanso.cmd
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+@"%~dp0espansow.exe" %*
\ No newline at end of file