diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qcoreapplication.cpp b/src/corelib/kernel/qcoreapplication.cpp
index c980e70dbf8..e3530a3393f 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qcoreapplication.cpp
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qcoreapplication.cpp
@@ -1381,7 +1381,7 @@ int QCoreApplication::exec()
     QEventLoop eventLoop;
     self->d_func()->in_exec = true;
     self->d_func()->aboutToQuitEmitted = false;
-    int returnCode = eventLoop.exec();
+    int returnCode = eventLoop.exec(QEventLoop::ApplicationExec);
     threadData->quitNow = false;
 
     if (self)
diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qeventloop.cpp b/src/corelib/kernel/qeventloop.cpp
index 4e4fa11b30e..b5304332ad1 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qeventloop.cpp
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qeventloop.cpp
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE
     \omitvalue X11ExcludeTimers
     \omitvalue EventLoopExec
     \omitvalue DialogExec
+    \omitvalue ApplicationExec
 
     \sa processEvents()
 */
diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qeventloop.h b/src/corelib/kernel/qeventloop.h
index 9b83d692fae..f3896bdd629 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qeventloop.h
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qeventloop.h
@@ -62,7 +62,8 @@ public:
         WaitForMoreEvents = 0x04,
         X11ExcludeTimers = 0x08,
         EventLoopExec = 0x20,
-        DialogExec = 0x40
+        DialogExec = 0x40,
+        ApplicationExec = 0x80,
     };
     Q_DECLARE_FLAGS(ProcessEventsFlags, ProcessEventsFlag)