diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc b/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc
index 7df5070dd..62fa748a7 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layMainWindow.cc
@@ -1489,7 +1489,11 @@ MainWindow::closeEvent (QCloseEvent *event)
     END_PROTECTED
   }
 
-  event->ignore ();
+  if (! m_exited) {
+    event->ignore ();
+  } else {
+    event->accept ();
+  }
 }
 
 void