diff --git a/src/lib/direct.cpp b/src/lib/direct.cpp
index 358342271..0e47ef7c2 100644
--- a/src/lib/direct.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/direct.cpp
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ int get_controlling_tty(FILE* ttyfp){
 static int
 ncdirect_stop_minimal(void* vnc){
   ncdirect* nc = static_cast<ncdirect*>(vnc);
-  int ret = 0;
+  int ret = drop_signals(nc);
   if(nc->tcache.op && term_emit("op", nc->tcache.op, nc->ttyfp, true)){
     ret = -1;
   }
@@ -681,6 +681,7 @@ err:
       tcsetattr(ret->ctermfd, TCSANOW, &ret->tpreserved);
     }
   }
+  drop_signals(ret);
   delete(ret);
   return nullptr;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 375de48f7..50fc95002 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -58,8 +58,7 @@ reset_term_attributes(notcurses* nc){
 static int
 notcurses_stop_minimal(void* vnc){
   notcurses* nc = vnc;
-  int ret = 0;
-  drop_signals(nc);
+  int ret = drop_signals(nc);
   // be sure to write the restoration sequences *prior* to running rmcup, as
   // they apply to the screen (alternate or otherwise) we're actually using.
   ret |= reset_term_attributes(nc);