diff --git a/src/util/externalcommandhelper.cpp b/src/util/externalcommandhelper.cpp
--- a/src/util/externalcommandhelper.cpp
+++ b/src/util/externalcommandhelper.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 #include "externalcommand_whitelist.h"
 
 #include <QtDBus>
+#include <QCoreApplication>
 #include <QDebug>
 #include <QFile>
 #include <QString>
@@ -71,6 +72,11 @@
     m_loop->exec();
     reply.addData(QStringLiteral("success"), true);
 
+    // Also end the application loop started by KAuth's main() code. Our loop
+    // exits when our client disappears. Without client we have no reason to
+    // live.
+    qApp->quit();
+
     return reply;
 }