diff --git a/src/WebhookServer.Gui/MainWindow.xaml.cs b/src/WebhookServer.Gui/MainWindow.xaml.cs
index 9f387ff..244e345 100644
--- a/src/WebhookServer.Gui/MainWindow.xaml.cs
+++ b/src/WebhookServer.Gui/MainWindow.xaml.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using System.ComponentModel;
 using System.Windows;
 using System.Windows.Controls;
 using System.Windows.Input;
@@ -11,19 +12,48 @@ public partial class MainWindow : Window
     private readonly TrayIcon _tray;
     private readonly MainViewModel _vm;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Set to true when the user has explicitly asked to quit (File -> Exit or
+    /// Tray -> Exit). The OnClosing handler reads this to decide whether to
+    /// actually let the window close or hide it to the tray.
+    /// </summary>
+    public bool ExitForReal { get; set; }
+
     public MainWindow()
     {
         InitializeComponent();
         _vm = new MainViewModel(new AdminPipeClient());
         DataContext = _vm;
+        _vm.RealExitRequested += OnRealExitRequested;
 
         _tray = new TrayIcon(
             resolveMainWindow: () => Application.Current.MainWindow,
-            restartServiceAsync: async () => await new AdminPipeClient().RestartListenerAsync());
+            restartServiceAsync: async () => await new AdminPipeClient().RestartListenerAsync(),
+            onExit: OnRealExitRequested);
 
         Loaded += async (_, _) => await _vm.RefreshCommand.ExecuteAsync(null);
         StateChanged += OnStateChanged;
-        Closed += (_, _) => _tray.Dispose();
+        Closing += OnClosing;
+    }
+
+    private void OnClosing(object? sender, CancelEventArgs e)
+    {
+        if (ExitForReal)
+        {
+            _tray.Dispose();
+            return;
+        }
+        // Treat the X button / Alt+F4 like a minimize: hide to tray, keep the
+        // process alive so the tray icon persists.
+        e.Cancel = true;
+        Hide();
+        ShowInTaskbar = false;
+    }
+
+    private void OnRealExitRequested()
+    {
+        ExitForReal = true;
+        Application.Current.Shutdown();
     }
 
     private void OnStateChanged(object? sender, EventArgs e)
diff --git a/src/WebhookServer.Gui/Services/TrayIcon.cs b/src/WebhookServer.Gui/Services/TrayIcon.cs
index 7cedfa5..4eb507c 100644
--- a/src/WebhookServer.Gui/Services/TrayIcon.cs
+++ b/src/WebhookServer.Gui/Services/TrayIcon.cs
@@ -16,11 +16,13 @@ public sealed class TrayIcon : IDisposable
     private readonly NotifyIcon _icon;
     private readonly Func<Window?> _resolveMainWindow;
     private readonly Func<Task> _restartServiceAsync;
+    private readonly Action _onExit;
 
-    public TrayIcon(Func<Window?> resolveMainWindow, Func<Task> restartServiceAsync)
+    public TrayIcon(Func<Window?> resolveMainWindow, Func<Task> restartServiceAsync, Action onExit)
     {
         _resolveMainWindow = resolveMainWindow;
         _restartServiceAsync = restartServiceAsync;
+        _onExit = onExit;
 
         _icon = new NotifyIcon
         {
@@ -39,7 +41,7 @@ public sealed class TrayIcon : IDisposable
         menu.Items.Add(new ToolStripSeparator());
         menu.Items.Add("&Restart service", null, async (_, _) => await _restartServiceAsync().ConfigureAwait(false));
         menu.Items.Add(new ToolStripSeparator());
-        menu.Items.Add("E&xit", null, (_, _) => Application.Current.Shutdown());
+        menu.Items.Add("E&xit", null, (_, _) => _onExit());
         return menu;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/WebhookServer.Gui/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs b/src/WebhookServer.Gui/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
index 5e944b6..e2bed34 100644
--- a/src/WebhookServer.Gui/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/WebhookServer.Gui/ViewModels/MainViewModel.cs
@@ -286,10 +286,14 @@ public sealed partial class MainViewModel : ObservableObject
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>Raised when the user picks File -> Exit. MainWindow flips its
+    /// ExitForReal flag and shuts down, bypassing the X-hides-to-tray logic.</summary>
+    public event Action? RealExitRequested;
+
     [RelayCommand]
     private void Exit()
     {
-        Application.Current.Shutdown();
+        RealExitRequested?.Invoke();
     }
 
     [RelayCommand]