diff --git a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NextGenTransport.h b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NextGenTransport.h
index 89b4ab9268c..fbc9e8e4199 100644
--- a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NextGenTransport.h
+++ b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NextGenTransport.h
@@ -9,14 +9,14 @@
 
 #include "GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/Vendor/ValveNetworkingSockets/steam/isteamnetworkingmessages.h"
 
-#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/GameNetworkingSockets.lib")
-#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/abseil_dll.lib")
-#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/libcrypto.lib")
-#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/libprotobuf.lib")
-#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/libssl.lib")
-#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/steamwebrtc.lib")
-#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/webrtc-lite.lib")
-#pragma comment(lib, "Secur32.lib")
+// Library linking moved to NextGenTransport.cpp to prevent early DLL loading during static initialization
+/* Removed - moved to .cpp */
+/* Removed - moved to .cpp */
+/* Removed - moved to .cpp */
+/* Removed - moved to .cpp */
+/* Removed - moved to .cpp */
+/* Removed - moved to .cpp */
+/* Removed - moved to .cpp */
 
 // it to be a MemoryPoolObject (srj)
 class NextGenTransport : public Transport //: public MemoryPoolObject
@@ -42,4 +42,4 @@ class NextGenTransport : public Transport //: public MemoryPoolObject
 
 private:
 	
-};
+};

diff --git a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NextGenTransport.cpp b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NextGenTransport.cpp
index 1f96589d28c..32f9332c8d1 100644
--- a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NextGenTransport.cpp
+++ b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/NextGenTransport.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,19 @@
 
 #include "GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/ngmp_include.h"
 #include "GameNetwork/GeneralsOnline/ngmp_interfaces.h"
+
+// Library linking directives moved here from NextGenTransport.h to prevent early DLL loading
+// during static initialization. This ensures libraries are only loaded when NextGenTransport
+// is actually instantiated (after the Windows application window has been created).
+#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/GameNetworkingSockets.lib")
+#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/abseil_dll.lib")
+#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/libcrypto.lib")
+#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/libprotobuf.lib")
+#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/libssl.lib")
+#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/steamwebrtc.lib")
+#pragma comment(lib, "ValveNetworkingSockets/webrtc-lite.lib")
+#pragma comment(lib, "Secur32.lib")
+
 
 #ifdef _INTERNAL
 // for occasional debugging...
@@ -264,4 +277,4 @@ Bool NextGenTransport::queueSend(UnsignedInt addr, UnsignedShort port, const Uns
 		}
 	}
 	return false;
-}
+}