diff --git a/src/lib/direct.c b/src/lib/direct.c
index 4a4216f56..ff7e65999 100644
--- a/src/lib/direct.c
+++ b/src/lib/direct.c
@@ -636,6 +636,9 @@ ncdirect_stop_minimal(void* vnc){
     ret = -1;
   }
   if(nc->ctermfd >= 0){
+    if(nc->tcache.pixel_shutdown){
+      ret |= nc->tcache.pixel_shutdown(nc->ctermfd);
+    }
     if(nc->tcache.cnorm && tty_emit(nc->tcache.cnorm, nc->ctermfd)){
       ret = -1;
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/internal.h b/src/lib/internal.h
index 8196d2511..d3bae40aa 100644
--- a/src/lib/internal.h
+++ b/src/lib/internal.h
@@ -363,8 +363,9 @@ typedef struct tinfo {
   // means leaving out the pixels (and likely resizes the string). for kitty,
   // this means dialing down their alpha to 0 (in equivalent space).
   int (*pixel_cell_wipe)(const struct notcurses* nc, sprixel* s, int y, int x);
-  int (*pixel_init)(int fd);
+  int (*pixel_init)(int fd);     // called when support is detected
   int (*pixel_draw)(const struct notcurses* n, const struct ncpile* p, sprixel* s, FILE* out);
+  int (*pixel_shutdown)(int fd); // called during context shutdown
   bool bitmap_supported;    // do we support bitmaps (post pixel_query_done)?
   bool sprixel_cursor_hack; // do sprixels reset the cursor? (mlterm)
   bool pixel_query_done;    // have we yet performed pixel query?
@@ -848,6 +849,8 @@ int sprite_kitty_init(int fd);
 int sprite_sixel_init(int fd);
 int sprite_init(const notcurses* nc);
 void sprixel_invalidate(sprixel* s);
+int kitty_shutdown(int fd);
+int sixel_shutdown(int fd);
 sprixel* sprixel_by_id(const notcurses* nc, uint32_t id);
 
 static inline void
diff --git a/src/lib/kitty.c b/src/lib/kitty.c
index 4e728a660..bfc704f1e 100644
--- a/src/lib/kitty.c
+++ b/src/lib/kitty.c
@@ -379,3 +379,10 @@ int kitty_draw(const notcurses* nc, const ncpile* p, sprixel* s, FILE* out){
 int sprite_kitty_init(int fd){
   return tty_emit("\e_Ga=d\e\\", fd);
 }
+
+int kitty_shutdown(int fd){
+  // FIXME need to close off any open kitty bitmap emission, or we will
+  // lock up the terminal
+  (void)fd;
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index 37a72d630..b63dfd569 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ notcurses_stop_minimal(void* vnc){
   // be sure to write the restoration sequences *prior* to running rmcup, as
   // they apply to the screen (alternate or otherwise) we're actually using.
   if(nc->ttyfd >= 0){
+    if(nc->tcache.pixel_shutdown){
+      ret |= nc->tcache.pixel_shutdown(nc->ttyfd);
+    }
     ret |= reset_term_attributes(nc);
     if(nc->tcache.rmcup && tty_emit(nc->tcache.rmcup, nc->ttyfd)){
       ret = -1;
diff --git a/src/lib/sixel.c b/src/lib/sixel.c
index 13ff8cffd..42bed3f07 100644
--- a/src/lib/sixel.c
+++ b/src/lib/sixel.c
@@ -535,6 +535,7 @@ int sixel_draw(const notcurses* n, const ncpile* p, sprixel* s, FILE* out){
 }
 
 int sprite_sixel_init(int fd){
+fprintf(stderr, "ARP?\n");
   // \e[?8452: DECSDM private "sixel scrolling" mode keeps the sixel from
   // scrolling, but puts it at the current cursor location (as opposed to
   // the upper left corner of the screen).
@@ -553,3 +554,8 @@ int sixel_wipe(const notcurses* nc, sprixel* s, int ycell, int xcell){
   change_p2(s->glyph, SIXEL_P2_TRANS);
   return -1;
 }
+
+int sixel_shutdown(int fd){
+fprintf(stderr, "ERP?\n");
+  return tty_emit("\e[?80;8452l", fd);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/terminfo.c b/src/lib/terminfo.c
index 28dd444a8..198b18ecd 100644
--- a/src/lib/terminfo.c
+++ b/src/lib/terminfo.c
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ apply_term_heuristics(tinfo* ti, const char* termname){
     ti->pixel_destroy = sprite_kitty_annihilate;
     ti->pixel_init = sprite_kitty_init;
     ti->pixel_draw = kitty_draw;
+    ti->pixel_shutdown = kitty_shutdown;
     set_pixel_blitter(kitty_blit);
   }else if(strstr(termname, "alacritty")){
     ti->alacritty_sixel_hack = true;
@@ -339,6 +340,7 @@ setup_sixel(tinfo* ti){
   ti->sixel_maxy = 4096;
   ti->pixel_destroy = sixel_delete;
   ti->pixel_cell_wipe = sixel_wipe;
+  ti->pixel_shutdown = sixel_shutdown;
 }
 
 // query for Sixel support