diff --git a/autotests/wayland/kwin_wayland_test.cpp b/autotests/wayland/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
index 2c1a01d9ee..a5787e33e3 100644
--- a/autotests/wayland/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
+++ b/autotests/wayland/kwin_wayland_test.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ WaylandTestApplication::~WaylandTestApplication()
     if (effects) {
         static_cast<EffectsHandlerImpl*>(effects)->unloadAllEffects();
     }
+    disconnect(m_xwaylandFailConnection);
     if (x11Connection()) {
         Xcb::setInputFocus(XCB_INPUT_FOCUS_POINTER_ROOT);
         destroyAtoms();
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ void WaylandTestApplication::startXwaylandServer()
                            QStringLiteral("-rootless"),
                            QStringLiteral("-wm"),
                            QString::number(fd)});
-    connect(m_xwaylandProcess, static_cast<void (QProcess::*)(QProcess::ProcessError)>(&QProcess::error), this,
+    m_xwaylandFailConnection = connect(m_xwaylandProcess, static_cast<void (QProcess::*)(QProcess::ProcessError)>(&QProcess::error), this,
         [] (QProcess::ProcessError error) {
             if (error == QProcess::FailedToStart) {
                 std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR: failed to start Xwayland" << std::endl;
diff --git a/autotests/wayland/kwin_wayland_test.h b/autotests/wayland/kwin_wayland_test.h
index 5d07c257e3..9599b3fe3b 100644
--- a/autotests/wayland/kwin_wayland_test.h
+++ b/autotests/wayland/kwin_wayland_test.h
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ private:
 
     int m_xcbConnectionFd = -1;
     QProcess *m_xwaylandProcess = nullptr;
+    QMetaObject::Connection m_xwaylandFailConnection;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/main_wayland.cpp b/main_wayland.cpp
index 7c4f8570f4..d5bb2156eb 100644
--- a/main_wayland.cpp
+++ b/main_wayland.cpp
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ ApplicationWayland::~ApplicationWayland()
     if (effects) {
         static_cast<EffectsHandlerImpl*>(effects)->unloadAllEffects();
     }
+    disconnect(m_xwaylandFailConnection);
     if (x11Connection()) {
         Xcb::setInputFocus(XCB_INPUT_FOCUS_POINTER_ROOT);
         destroyAtoms();
@@ -293,7 +294,7 @@ void ApplicationWayland::startXwaylandServer()
                            QStringLiteral("-rootless"),
                            QStringLiteral("-wm"),
                            QString::number(fd)});
-    connect(m_xwaylandProcess, static_cast<void (QProcess::*)(QProcess::ProcessError)>(&QProcess::error), this,
+    m_xwaylandFailConnection = connect(m_xwaylandProcess, static_cast<void (QProcess::*)(QProcess::ProcessError)>(&QProcess::error), this,
         [] (QProcess::ProcessError error) {
             if (error == QProcess::FailedToStart) {
                 std::cerr << "FATAL ERROR: failed to start Xwayland" << std::endl;
diff --git a/main_wayland.h b/main_wayland.h
index fd95bd7481..e5d7c962b4 100644
--- a/main_wayland.h
+++ b/main_wayland.h
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ private:
     QStringList m_applicationsToStart;
     QString m_inputMethodServerToStart;
     QProcess *m_xwaylandProcess = nullptr;
+    QMetaObject::Connection m_xwaylandFailConnection;
     QProcessEnvironment m_environment;
 };