diff --git a/src/frontends/qt4/QPrefsDialog.C b/src/frontends/qt4/QPrefsDialog.C
index 4347dc8069..213ffd14db 100644
--- a/src/frontends/qt4/QPrefsDialog.C
+++ b/src/frontends/qt4/QPrefsDialog.C
@@ -1764,7 +1764,7 @@ QPrefsDialog::QPrefsDialog(QPrefs * form)
 	: form_(form)
 {
 	setupUi(this);
-	QDialog::setModal(true);
+	QDialog::setModal(false);
 
 	connect(savePB, SIGNAL(clicked()),
 		form, SLOT(slotOK()));