diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/wayland/qwaylanddisplay.cpp b/src/plugins/platforms/wayland/qwaylanddisplay.cpp
index f197b378803..0bea9af659a 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/wayland/qwaylanddisplay.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/wayland/qwaylanddisplay.cpp
@@ -194,6 +194,8 @@ void QWaylandDisplay::blockingReadEvents()
 
 void QWaylandDisplay::exitWithError()
 {
+    mEventThread->quit();
+    mEventThread->wait();
     ::exit(1);
 }