diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_gui.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_gui.py
index 91d785a85..657efb55d 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_gui.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_gui.py
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ class MainWindow(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
 
         self.exit_request = asyncio.Event()
 
-    def closeEvent(self, *args):
+    def closeEvent(self, event):
+        event.ignore()
         self.exit_request.set()
 
     def save_state(self):