diff --git a/lang/en_utf8/moodle.php b/lang/en_utf8/moodle.php
index 2410252cc26..34896171aa7 100644
--- a/lang/en_utf8/moodle.php
+++ b/lang/en_utf8/moodle.php
@@ -1047,6 +1047,7 @@ $string['periodending'] = 'Period ending ($a)';
 $string['personalprofile'] = 'Personal profile';
 $string['phone'] = 'Phone';
 $string['phpinfo'] = 'PHP info';
+$string['pleaseclose'] = 'Please close this window now.';
 $string['pluginsetup'] = 'Setting up plugin tables';
 $string['policyagree'] = 'You must agree to this policy to continue using this site.  Do you agree?';
 $string['policyagreement'] = 'Site Policy Agreement';
diff --git a/lib/weblib.php b/lib/weblib.php
index 7bc2efd220d..01a50b53bf3 100644
--- a/lib/weblib.php
+++ b/lib/weblib.php
@@ -690,15 +690,20 @@ function close_window_button($name='closewindow', $return=false) {
  * Try and close the current window immediately using Javascript
  */
 function close_window($delay=0) {
-    echo '<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">'."\n";
-    echo '<!--'."\n";
-    if ($delay) {
-        sleep($delay);
+?>
+<script type="text/javascript">
+<!--
+    function close_this_window() {
+        self.close();
     }
-    echo 'self.close();'."\n";
-    echo '-->'."\n";
-    echo '</script>'."\n";
-    exit;
+    setTimeout("close_this_window()", <?php echo $delay * 1000 ?>);
+-->
+</script>
+<noscript><center>
+<?php print_string('pleaseclose') ?>
+</center></noscript>
+<?php
+    die;
 }