diff --git a/src/Main.cpp b/src/Main.cpp
--- a/src/Main.cpp
+++ b/src/Main.cpp
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@
         if (parser.isSet(QStringLiteral("onclick"))) {
             delayMsec = -1;
         }
+
+        app.setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(false);
+        break;
+
     case SpectacleCore::DBusMode:
         app.setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(false);
     case SpectacleCore::GuiMode:
diff --git a/src/SpectacleCore.cpp b/src/SpectacleCore.cpp
--- a/src/SpectacleCore.cpp
+++ b/src/SpectacleCore.cpp
@@ -208,6 +208,8 @@
     switch (mStartMode) {
     case BackgroundMode:
         showErrorMessage(i18n("Screenshot capture canceled or failed"));
+        emit allDone();
+        return;
     case DBusMode:
         emit grabFailed();
         emit allDone();