-        s_tipWindow = new wxTipWindow((wxWindow *)window, text, 100, & s_tipWindow);
+        // use the native help popup style if it's available
+#if wxUSE_MS_HTML_HELP
+        if ( !wxCHMHelpController::ShowContextHelpPopup
+                                   (
+                                        text,
+                                        posTooltip,
+                                        (wxWindow *)window
+                                   ) )
+#endif // wxUSE_MS_HTML_HELP
+        {
+#if wxUSE_TIPWINDOW
+            static wxTipWindow* s_tipWindow = NULL;
+
+            if ( s_tipWindow )
+            {
+                // Prevent s_tipWindow being nulled in OnIdle, thereby removing
+                // the chance for the window to be closed by ShowHelp
+                s_tipWindow->SetTipWindowPtr(NULL);
+                s_tipWindow->Close();
+            }
+
+            s_tipWindow = new wxTipWindow((wxWindow *)window, text,
+                                            100, &s_tipWindow);
+#else // !wxUSE_TIPWINDOW
+            // we tried wxCHMHelpController but it failed and we don't have
+            // wxTipWindow to fall back on, so
+            return false;
+#endif // wxUSE_TIPWINDOW
+        }