diff --git a/eel/__init__.py b/eel/__init__.py
index 1ec26310..5b06401e 100644
--- a/eel/__init__.py
+++ b/eel/__init__.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from builtins import range
 from io import open
 
+from gevent.threading import Timer
 import gevent as gvt
 import json as jsn
 import bottle as btl
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@
 _js_functions = []
 _mock_queue = []
 _mock_queue_done = set()
+_shutdown = None
 
 # The maximum time (in milliseconds) that Python will try to retrieve a return value for functions executing in JS
 # Can be overridden through `eel.init` with the kwarg `js_result_timeout` (default: 10000)
@@ -326,17 +328,24 @@ def _expose(name, function):
     _exposed_functions[name] = function
 
 
+def _detect_shutdown():
+    if len(_websockets) == 0:
+        sys.exit()
+
+
 def _websocket_close(page):
+    global _shutdown
+
     close_callback = _start_args.get('close_callback')
 
     if close_callback is not None:
         sockets = [p for _, p in _websockets]
         close_callback(page, sockets)
     else:
-        # Default behaviour - wait 1s, then quit if all sockets are closed
-        sleep(1.0)
-        if len(_websockets) == 0:
-            sys.exit()
+        if _shutdown:
+            _shutdown.kill()
+
+        _shutdown = gvt.spawn_later(1.0, _detect_shutdown)
 
 
 def _set_response_headers(response):