diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index ef53b33..82e89a8 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -1979,6 +1979,7 @@
 		{
 		    Columns = 80;	// need to init Columns
 		    info_message = TRUE; // use mch_msg(), not mch_errmsg()
+		    gui.starting = FALSE; // not starting GUI, will exit
 		    list_version();
 		    msg_putchar('\n');
 		    msg_didout = FALSE;