diff --git a/src/backend/blt.rs b/src/backend/blt.rs
index 1712f09..fa79051 100644
--- a/src/backend/blt.rs
+++ b/src/backend/blt.rs
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ impl backend::Backend for Concrete {
         if let Some(ev) = terminal::wait_event() {
             match ev {
                 // TODO: what should we do here?
-                BltEvent::Close => Event::Refresh,
+                BltEvent::Close => Event::Exit,
                 BltEvent::Resize { .. } => Event::WindowResize,
                 // TODO: mouse support
                 BltEvent::MouseMove { .. } => Event::Refresh,
diff --git a/src/event.rs b/src/event.rs
index 5d5e349..cf3c384 100644
--- a/src/event.rs
+++ b/src/event.rs
@@ -218,6 +218,10 @@ pub enum Event {
 
     /// An unknown event was received.
     Unknown(i32),
+
+    #[doc(hidden)]
+    /// The application is about to exit.
+    Exit,
 }
 
 impl From<char> for Event {
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index bfbc333..710320c 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -530,6 +530,10 @@ impl Cursive {
             // Wait for next event.
             // (If set_fps was called, this returns -1 now and then)
             let event = self.backend.poll_event();
+            if event == Event::Exit {
+                self.quit();
+            }
+
             if event == Event::WindowResize {
                 self.backend.clear();
             }