diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 7c487fc7..ab974124 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -938,7 +938,8 @@ quit_program (state_t *state)
     }
 
 #ifdef PLY_ENABLE_GDM_TRANSITION
-  if (state->should_retain_splash)
+  if (state->should_retain_splash &&
+      state->mode == PLY_BOOT_SPLASH_MODE_BOOT_UP)
     {
       tell_gdm_to_transition ();
     }