diff --git a/.werks/17196 b/.werks/17196
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f152d359e97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.werks/17196
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+Title: Crash in during HW/SW inventory on Windows
+Class: fix
+Compatible: compat
+Component: checks
+Date: 1728416670
+Edition: cre
+Level: 1
+Version: 2.2.0p36
+
+This fixes a crash in case software package names contained a pipe character (<code>|</code>).
+Affected users need to redeploy the Checkmk agent.
diff --git a/agents/windows/plugins/mk_inventory.vbs b/agents/windows/plugins/mk_inventory.vbs
index 4a9edfb6074..cfb58bf9733 100644
--- a/agents/windows/plugins/mk_inventory.vbs
+++ b/agents/windows/plugins/mk_inventory.vbs
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ Sub SoftwareFromInstaller(fields)
                 idx = idx + 1
             Next
 
-            outPut(Join(values, "|"))
+            outPut(Join(values, Chr(0)))
         else
             'Products function
             Err.clear()
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ Sub SoftwareFromInstaller(fields)
                 idx = idx + 1
             Next
 
-            outPut(Join(values, "|"))
+            outPut(Join(values, Chr(0)))
         end if
     Next
 End Sub
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ Call startSection("win_ip_r",124,timeUntil)
 Call getRouteTable()
 
 ' Installed Software
-Call startSection("win_wmi_software",124,timeUntil)
+Call startSection("win_wmi_software",0,timeUntil)
 swVars = Array( "ProductName", "Publisher", "VersionString", "InstallDate", "Language")
 Call SoftwareFromInstaller(swVars)
 
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ Do While Not objExecObject.StdOut.AtEndOfStream
 Loop
 
 ' Search Registry
-Call startSection("win_reg_uninstall",124,timeUntil)
+Call startSection("win_reg_uninstall",0,timeUntil)
 Set rego = GetObject("WinMgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")
 regVars = Array("DisplayName", "Publisher", "InstallLocation", "PSChildName", "DisplayVersion", "EstimatedSize", "InstallDate", "Language")
 
@@ -359,13 +359,13 @@ For Each path in regPaths
                 End If
                 ' Only allow vartypes which can be represented as a string
                 If VarType(value) <= 8 and VarType(value) > 1 Then
-                    strOut = strOut & "|" & CStr(value)
+                    strOut = strOut & Chr(0) & CStr(value)
                     ' Only print a line when more than only PSChildName is present
                     If var <> "PSChildName" Then
                         boleanContent = True
                     End If
                 Else
-                    strOut = strOut & "|"
+                    strOut = strOut & Chr(0)
                 End If
             Next
             If boleanContent Then