diff --git a/gui/QT/widget/vuMeterWidget.cpp b/gui/QT/widget/vuMeterWidget.cpp
index 9e5197817..f787fb441 100644
--- a/gui/QT/widget/vuMeterWidget.cpp
+++ b/gui/QT/widget/vuMeterWidget.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include <algorithm>
 #include <cmath>
 #include <thread>
+#include <functional>
 #include <QPainter>
 #include <QBrush>
 #include <QLinearGradient>
@@ -11,16 +12,12 @@
 
 namespace{
 
-ug_connection *connectLoop(int port){
-	const int max_tries = 2;
-	int tries = 0;
-
+ug_connection *connectLoop(int port, const std::atomic<bool>& should_exit){
 	ug_connection *connection = nullptr;
 	connection = ug_control_connection_init(port);
-	while(!connection && tries < max_tries){
+	while(!connection && !should_exit){
 		std::this_thread::sleep_for (std::chrono::seconds(2));
 		connection = ug_control_connection_init(port);
-		tries++;
 	}
 
 	return connection;
@@ -192,7 +189,7 @@ void VuMeterWidget::connect_ug(){
 			c = future_connection.get();
 		}
 	} else {
-		future_connection = std::async(std::launch::async, connectLoop, port);
+		future_connection = std::async(std::launch::async, connectLoop, port, std::ref(should_exit));
 	}
 
 	if(!c)
diff --git a/gui/QT/widget/vuMeterWidget.hpp b/gui/QT/widget/vuMeterWidget.hpp
index 0b7764fd3..01ff96352 100644
--- a/gui/QT/widget/vuMeterWidget.hpp
+++ b/gui/QT/widget/vuMeterWidget.hpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <QWidget>
 #include <QPaintEvent>
 #include <memory>
+#include <atomic>
 
 #include <future>
 
@@ -31,6 +32,7 @@ public:
   	}
 
 	~VuMeterWidget(){
+		should_exit = true;
 		ug_control_cleanup();
 	}
 
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@ private:
 	QTimer timer;
 	std::unique_ptr<ug_connection, void(*)(ug_connection *)> connection;
 	std::future<ug_connection *> future_connection;
+	std::atomic<bool> should_exit = false;
 
 	int port;