diff --git a/homeassistant/__main__.py b/homeassistant/__main__.py
index 30dfa6b6db0..e5305245b18 100644
--- a/homeassistant/__main__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/__main__.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from homeassistant.const import (
     __version__,
     EVENT_HOMEASSISTANT_START,
     REQUIRED_PYTHON_VER,
+    REQUIRED_PYTHON_VER_WIN,
     RESTART_EXIT_CODE,
 )
 from homeassistant.util.async import run_callback_threadsafe
@@ -64,7 +65,12 @@ def monkey_patch_asyncio():
 
 def validate_python() -> None:
     """Validate we're running the right Python version."""
-    if sys.version_info[:3] < REQUIRED_PYTHON_VER:
+    if sys.platform == "win32" and \
+       sys.version_info[:3] < REQUIRED_PYTHON_VER_WIN:
+        print("Home Assistant requires at least Python {}.{}.{}".format(
+            *REQUIRED_PYTHON_VER_WIN))
+        sys.exit(1)
+    elif sys.version_info[:3] < REQUIRED_PYTHON_VER:
         print("Home Assistant requires at least Python {}.{}.{}".format(
             *REQUIRED_PYTHON_VER))
         sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/homeassistant/const.py b/homeassistant/const.py
index fcba511fe10..abe932fad15 100644
--- a/homeassistant/const.py
+++ b/homeassistant/const.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ PATCH_VERSION = '0.dev0'
 __short_version__ = '{}.{}'.format(MAJOR_VERSION, MINOR_VERSION)
 __version__ = '{}.{}'.format(__short_version__, PATCH_VERSION)
 REQUIRED_PYTHON_VER = (3, 4, 2)
+REQUIRED_PYTHON_VER_WIN = (3, 5, 2)
 
 PROJECT_NAME = 'Home Assistant'
 PROJECT_PACKAGE_NAME = 'homeassistant'
diff --git a/homeassistant/core.py b/homeassistant/core.py
index 5fb7d2761cc..8de1e2b2535 100644
--- a/homeassistant/core.py
+++ b/homeassistant/core.py
@@ -107,7 +107,11 @@ class HomeAssistant(object):
 
     def __init__(self, loop=None):
         """Initialize new Home Assistant object."""
-        self.loop = loop or asyncio.get_event_loop()
+        if sys.platform == "win32":
+            self.loop = loop or asyncio.ProactorEventLoop()
+        else:
+            self.loop = loop or asyncio.get_event_loop()
+
         self.executor = ThreadPoolExecutor(max_workers=5)
         self.loop.set_default_executor(self.executor)
         self.loop.set_exception_handler(self._async_exception_handler)
diff --git a/tests/common.py b/tests/common.py
index af65a93f216..ee84cc7c642 100644
--- a/tests/common.py
+++ b/tests/common.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Test the helper method for writing tests."""
 import asyncio
 import os
+import sys
 from datetime import timedelta
 from unittest import mock
 from unittest.mock import patch
@@ -33,7 +34,10 @@ def get_test_config_dir(*add_path):
 
 def get_test_home_assistant():
     """Return a Home Assistant object pointing at test config dir."""
-    loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
+    if sys.platform == "win32":
+        loop = asyncio.ProactorEventLoop()
+    else:
+        loop = asyncio.new_event_loop()
 
     hass = loop.run_until_complete(async_test_home_assistant(loop))
     hass.allow_pool = True