diff --git a/options/m_option.h b/options/m_option.h
index 6a7b4accc9..69113bbd8c 100644
--- a/options/m_option.h
+++ b/options/m_option.h
@@ -389,7 +389,8 @@ struct m_option {
 #define UPDATE_IMGPAR           (1 << 12) // video image params overrides
 #define UPDATE_INPUT            (1 << 13) // mostly --input-* options
 #define UPDATE_AUDIO            (1 << 14) // --audio-channels etc.
-#define UPDATE_OPT_LAST         (1 << 14)
+#define UPDATE_PRIORITY         (1 << 15) // --priority (Windows-only)
+#define UPDATE_OPT_LAST         (1 << 15)
 
 // All bits between _FIRST and _LAST (inclusive)
 #define UPDATE_OPTS_MASK \
diff --git a/options/options.c b/options/options.c
index a91775ddf4..b7cc7443d2 100644
--- a/options/options.c
+++ b/options/options.c
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ const m_option_t mp_opts[] = {
     OPT_FLAG("msg-module", msg_module, UPDATE_TERM),
     OPT_FLAG("msg-time", msg_time, UPDATE_TERM),
 #ifdef _WIN32
-    OPT_CHOICE("priority", w32_priority, M_OPT_FIXED,
+    OPT_CHOICE("priority", w32_priority, UPDATE_PRIORITY,
                ({"no",          0},
                 {"realtime",    REALTIME_PRIORITY_CLASS},
                 {"high",        HIGH_PRIORITY_CLASS},
diff --git a/player/command.c b/player/command.c
index be6b31d1b3..9b771a2e1d 100644
--- a/player/command.c
+++ b/player/command.c
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@
 
 #include "core.h"
 
+#ifdef _WIN32
+#include <windows.h>
+#endif
+
 struct command_ctx {
     // All properties, terminated with a {0} item.
     struct m_property *properties;
@@ -5649,6 +5653,15 @@ void mp_notify(struct MPContext *mpctx, int event, void *arg)
     mp_client_broadcast_event(mpctx, event, arg);
 }
 
+static void update_priority(struct MPContext *mpctx)
+{
+#ifdef _WIN32
+    struct MPOpts *opts = mpctx->opts;
+    if (opts->w32_priority > 0)
+        SetPriorityClass(GetCurrentProcess(), opts->w32_priority);
+#endif
+}
+
 void mp_option_change_callback(void *ctx, struct m_config_option *co, int flags)
 {
     struct MPContext *mpctx = ctx;
@@ -5704,6 +5717,9 @@ void mp_option_change_callback(void *ctx, struct m_config_option *co, int flags)
         uninit_audio_out(mpctx);
         mp_wakeup_core(mpctx);
     }
+
+    if (flags & UPDATE_PRIORITY)
+        update_priority(mpctx);
 }
 
 void mp_notify_property(struct MPContext *mpctx, const char *property)
diff --git a/player/main.c b/player/main.c
index ad907e034a..7dcc266094 100644
--- a/player/main.c
+++ b/player/main.c
@@ -66,10 +66,6 @@ static const char def_config[] =
 #include "player/builtin_conf.inc"
 ;
 
-#ifdef _WIN32
-#include <windows.h>
-#endif
-
 #if HAVE_COCOA
 #include "osdep/macosx_events.h"
 #endif
@@ -472,11 +468,6 @@ int mp_initialize(struct MPContext *mpctx, char **options)
     if (opts->force_vo == 2 && handle_force_window(mpctx, false) < 0)
         return -1;
 
-#ifdef _WIN32
-    if (opts->w32_priority > 0)
-        SetPriorityClass(GetCurrentProcess(), opts->w32_priority);
-#endif
-
     MP_STATS(mpctx, "end init");
 
     return 0;