diff --git a/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp b/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
--- a/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/integration/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@
 
 WaylandTestApplication::~WaylandTestApplication()
 {
+    setTerminating();
     kwinApp()->platform()->setOutputsEnabled(false);
     // need to unload all effects prior to destroying X connection as they might do X calls
     // also before destroy Workspace, as effects might call into Workspace
diff --git a/composite.cpp b/composite.cpp
--- a/composite.cpp
+++ b/composite.cpp
@@ -156,6 +156,10 @@
 
 void Compositor::setup()
 {
+    if (kwinApp()->isTerminating()) {
+        // don't setup while KWin is terminating. An event to restart might be lingering in the event queue due to graphics reset
+        return;
+    }
     if (hasScene())
         return;
     if (m_suspended) {
diff --git a/main.h b/main.h
--- a/main.h
+++ b/main.h
@@ -188,6 +188,10 @@
         return m_platform;
     }
 
+    bool isTerminating() const {
+        return m_terminating;
+    }
+
     static void setupMalloc();
     static void setupLocalizedString();
 
@@ -231,6 +235,10 @@
     }
     void destroyAtoms();
 
+    void setTerminating() {
+        m_terminating = true;
+    }
+
 protected:
     QString m_originalSessionKey;
     static int crashes;
@@ -252,6 +260,7 @@
     bool m_useKActivities = true;
 #endif
     Platform *m_platform = nullptr;
+    bool m_terminating = false;
 };
 
 inline static Application *kwinApp()
diff --git a/main_wayland.cpp b/main_wayland.cpp
--- a/main_wayland.cpp
+++ b/main_wayland.cpp
@@ -129,6 +129,7 @@
 
 ApplicationWayland::~ApplicationWayland()
 {
+    setTerminating();
     if (!waylandServer()) {
         return;
     }
diff --git a/main_x11.cpp b/main_x11.cpp
--- a/main_x11.cpp
+++ b/main_x11.cpp
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@
 
 ApplicationX11::~ApplicationX11()
 {
+    setTerminating();
     destroyCompositor();
     destroyWorkspace();
     if (!owner.isNull() && owner->ownerWindow() != XCB_WINDOW_NONE)   // If there was no --replace (no new WM)