diff --git a/cmd_windows.bat b/cmd_windows.bat
index 82e1dac9..531a3261 100755
--- a/cmd_windows.bat
+++ b/cmd_windows.bat
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ set TMP=%cd%\installer_files
 set TEMP=%cd%\installer_files
 
 @rem deactivate existing conda envs as needed to avoid conflicts
-(conda deactivate && conda deactivate && conda deactivate) 2>nul
+(call conda deactivate && call conda deactivate && call conda deactivate) 2>nul
 
 @rem config
 set CONDA_ROOT_PREFIX=%cd%\installer_files\conda
diff --git a/start_windows.bat b/start_windows.bat
index da8050f0..4e6f6fe7 100755
--- a/start_windows.bat
+++ b/start_windows.bat
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ set TMP=%cd%\installer_files
 set TEMP=%cd%\installer_files
 
 @rem deactivate existing conda envs as needed to avoid conflicts
-(conda deactivate && conda deactivate && conda deactivate) 2>nul
+(call conda deactivate && call conda deactivate && call conda deactivate) 2>nul
 
 @rem config
 set INSTALL_DIR=%cd%\installer_files
diff --git a/update_windows.bat b/update_windows.bat
index b08773cf..537d1d69 100755
--- a/update_windows.bat
+++ b/update_windows.bat
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ set TMP=%cd%\installer_files
 set TEMP=%cd%\installer_files
 
 @rem deactivate existing conda envs as needed to avoid conflicts
-(conda deactivate && conda deactivate && conda deactivate) 2>nul
+(call conda deactivate && call conda deactivate && call conda deactivate) 2>nul
 
 @rem config
 set CONDA_ROOT_PREFIX=%cd%\installer_files\conda