diff --git a/cloudbaseinit/shell.py b/cloudbaseinit/shell.py
index 02d11814..ba08c723 100644
--- a/cloudbaseinit/shell.py
+++ b/cloudbaseinit/shell.py
@@ -12,11 +12,15 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+import struct
 import sys
 
-import pythoncom
-sys.coinit_flags = pythoncom.COINIT_MULTITHREADED
-pythoncom.CoInitializeEx(pythoncom.COINIT_MULTITHREADED)
+if struct.calcsize("P") == 8 and sys.platform == 'win32':
+    # This is needed by Nano Server.
+    # Set COINIT_MULTITHREADED only on x64 interpreters due to issues on x86.
+    import pythoncom
+    sys.coinit_flags = pythoncom.COINIT_MULTITHREADED
+    pythoncom.CoInitializeEx(pythoncom.COINIT_MULTITHREADED)
 
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as oslo_logging