diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index ca26131b957..85d79ee26c3 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -218,6 +218,8 @@ BitcoinApplication::~BitcoinApplication()
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
     delete paymentServer;
     paymentServer = nullptr;
+    delete m_wallet_controller;
+    m_wallet_controller = nullptr;
 #endif
     delete optionsModel;
     optionsModel = nullptr;
@@ -307,18 +309,20 @@ void BitcoinApplication::requestShutdown()
     qDebug() << __func__ << ": Requesting shutdown";
     startThread();
     window->hide();
+    // Must disconnect node signals otherwise current thread can deadlock since
+    // no event loop is running.
+    window->unsubscribeFromCoreSignals();
+    // Request node shutdown, which can interrupt long operations, like
+    // rescanning a wallet.
+    m_node.startShutdown();
+    // Unsetting the client model can cause the current thread to wait for node
+    // to complete an operation, like wait for a RPC execution to complate.
     window->setClientModel(nullptr);
     pollShutdownTimer->stop();
 
-#ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
-    delete m_wallet_controller;
-    m_wallet_controller = nullptr;
-#endif
     delete clientModel;
     clientModel = nullptr;
 
-    m_node.startShutdown();
-
     // Request shutdown from core thread
     Q_EMIT requestedShutdown();
 }
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoingui.h b/src/qt/bitcoingui.h
index f1b76a6b641..c31cefe603f 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoingui.h
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoingui.h
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ public:
     */
     bool hasTrayIcon() const { return trayIcon; }
 
+    /** Disconnect core signals from GUI client */
+    void unsubscribeFromCoreSignals();
+
 protected:
     void changeEvent(QEvent *e);
     void closeEvent(QCloseEvent *event);
@@ -184,8 +187,6 @@ private:
 
     /** Connect core signals to GUI client */
     void subscribeToCoreSignals();
-    /** Disconnect core signals from GUI client */
-    void unsubscribeFromCoreSignals();
 
     /** Update UI with latest network info from model. */
     void updateNetworkState();
diff --git a/src/validationinterface.cpp b/src/validationinterface.cpp
index 2e13bef19eb..70c274d20e3 100644
--- a/src/validationinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/validationinterface.cpp
@@ -107,7 +107,9 @@ void RegisterValidationInterface(CValidationInterface* pwalletIn) {
 }
 
 void UnregisterValidationInterface(CValidationInterface* pwalletIn) {
-    g_signals.m_internals->m_connMainSignals.erase(pwalletIn);
+    if (g_signals.m_internals) {
+        g_signals.m_internals->m_connMainSignals.erase(pwalletIn);
+    }
 }
 
 void UnregisterAllValidationInterfaces() {