diff --git a/src/core/qgsrunprocess.cpp b/src/core/qgsrunprocess.cpp
index e66bf1efb4c..f5628f39fa8 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsrunprocess.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsrunprocess.cpp
@@ -47,9 +47,6 @@ QgsRunProcess::QgsRunProcess( const QString& action, bool capture )
     // inside the capture if() statement.
     connect( mProcess, SIGNAL( finished( int, QProcess::ExitStatus ) ), this, SLOT( processExit( int, QProcess::ExitStatus ) ) );
 
-    // start the process!
-    mProcess->start( action );
-
     // Use QgsMessageOutput for displaying output to user
     // It will delete itself when the dialog box is closed.
     mOutput = QgsMessageOutput::createMessageOutput();
@@ -63,6 +60,9 @@ QgsRunProcess::QgsRunProcess( const QString& action, bool capture )
     {
       connect( mOutputObj, SIGNAL( destroyed() ), this, SLOT( dialogGone() ) );
     }
+
+    // start the process!
+    mProcess->start( action );
   }
   else
   {
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ void QgsRunProcess::dialogGone()
   // class being called after it has been deleted (Qt seems not to be
   // disconnecting them itself)
 
+  mOutput = 0;
+
   disconnect( mProcess, SIGNAL( error( QProcess::ProcessError ) ), this, SLOT( processError( QProcess::ProcessError ) ) );
   disconnect( mProcess, SIGNAL( readyReadStandardOutput() ), this, SLOT( stdoutAvailable() ) );
   disconnect( mProcess, SIGNAL( readyReadStandardError() ), this, SLOT( stderrAvailable() ) );
@@ -145,7 +147,7 @@ void QgsRunProcess::processError( QProcess::ProcessError err )
 {
   if ( err == QProcess::FailedToStart )
   {
-    QgsMessageOutput* output = QgsMessageOutput::createMessageOutput();
+    QgsMessageOutput* output = mOutput ? mOutput : QgsMessageOutput::createMessageOutput();
     output->setMessage( tr( "Unable to run command %1" ).arg( mCommand ), QgsMessageOutput::MessageText );
     // Didn't work, so no need to hang around
     die();