diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/pyqt6_compat.py b/src/calibre/gui2/pyqt6_compat.py
index 5f370f14c1..d95d0a081d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/pyqt6_compat.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/pyqt6_compat.py
@@ -7,10 +7,11 @@
 # party plugin code, we NEED backward compat.
 
 from qt.core import (
-    QAbstractItemView, QAction, QComboBox, QDialog, QDialogButtonBox, QDrag,
-    QDropEvent, QEvent, QEventLoop, QFontMetrics, QFormLayout, QFrame, QHoverEvent,
-    QImage, QIODevice, QLayout, QLineEdit, QMenu, QMessageBox, QModelIndex, QPalette,
-    QSinglePointEvent, QSizePolicy, Qt, QThread, QToolButton
+    QAbstractItemView, QAction, QComboBox, QCoreApplication, QDialog,
+    QDialogButtonBox, QDrag, QDropEvent, QEvent, QEventLoop, QFontMetrics,
+    QFormLayout, QFrame, QHoverEvent, QImage, QIODevice, QLayout, QLineEdit, QMenu,
+    QMessageBox, QModelIndex, QPalette, QSinglePointEvent, QSizePolicy, Qt, QThread,
+    QToolButton
 )
 
 from calibre_extensions import progress_indicator
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ QDrag.exec_ = exec_
 QEventLoop.exec_ = exec_
 QThread.exec_ = exec_
 QMessageBox.exec_ = exec_
+QCoreApplication.exec_ = exec_
 
 
 # Restore ability to associate a menu with an action