diff --git a/src/msw/ole/automtn.cpp b/src/msw/ole/automtn.cpp
index b99c9c8d92..d10484a938 100644
--- a/src/msw/ole/automtn.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/ole/automtn.cpp
@@ -538,8 +538,13 @@ bool wxAutomationObject::CreateInstance(const wxString& classId) const
         return false;
     }
 
-    // start a new copy of Excel, grab the IDispatch interface
-    if (FAILED(CoCreateInstance(clsId, NULL, CLSCTX_ALL, IID_IDispatch, (void**)&m_dispatchPtr)))
+    // get the server IDispatch interface
+    //
+    // NB: using CLSCTX_INPROC_HANDLER results in failure when getting
+    //     Automation interface for Microsoft Office applications so don't use
+    //     CLSCTX_ALL which includes it
+    if (FAILED(CoCreateInstance(clsId, NULL, CLSCTX_SERVER, IID_IDispatch,
+                                (void**)&m_dispatchPtr)))
     {
         wxLogWarning(wxT("Cannot start an instance of this class."));
         return false;