diff --git a/src/normal.c b/src/normal.c
index 76eb18a..a8e65ff 100644
--- a/src/normal.c
+++ b/src/normal.c
@@ -7850,8 +7850,12 @@
 nv_window(cmdarg_T *cap)
 {
     if (cap->nchar == ':')
+    {
 	/* "CTRL-W :" is the same as typing ":"; useful in a terminal window */
+	cap->cmdchar = ':';
+	cap->nchar = NUL;
 	nv_colon(cap);
+    }
     else if (!checkclearop(cap->oap))
 	do_window(cap->nchar, cap->count0, NUL); /* everything is in window.c */
 }