diff --git a/frontends/rioterm/src/application.rs b/frontends/rioterm/src/application.rs
index b2a2a1bebb..fb4dc2c235 100644
--- a/frontends/rioterm/src/application.rs
+++ b/frontends/rioterm/src/application.rs
@@ -1842,7 +1842,10 @@ impl ApplicationHandler<EventPayload> for Application<'_> {
                             );
                         }
 
-                        if let Some(window_update) = route.window.screen.render() {
+                        let force_present = route.path == RoutePath::ConfirmQuit;
+                        if let Some(window_update) =
+                            route.window.screen.render(force_present)
+                        {
                             use crate::context::renderable::{
                                 BackgroundState, WindowUpdate,
                             };
diff --git a/frontends/rioterm/src/screen/mod.rs b/frontends/rioterm/src/screen/mod.rs
index 2be9533595..9b87e2674c 100644
--- a/frontends/rioterm/src/screen/mod.rs
+++ b/frontends/rioterm/src/screen/mod.rs
@@ -3488,7 +3488,10 @@ impl Screen<'_> {
         }
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn render(&mut self) -> Option<crate::context::renderable::WindowUpdate> {
+    pub(crate) fn render(
+        &mut self,
+        force_present: bool,
+    ) -> Option<crate::context::renderable::WindowUpdate> {
         let current_route = self.context_manager.current_route();
         let (grid_cols, grid_rows) = {
             let terminal = self.context_manager.current().terminal.lock();
@@ -3537,7 +3540,11 @@ impl Screen<'_> {
             .renderer
             .run(&mut self.sugarloaf, &mut self.context_manager);
         let has_animation = self.renderer.needs_redraw();
-        let should_present = any_panel_dirty || has_animation;
+        // `force_present` keeps immediate-mode overlays (e.g. the quit
+        // confirmation dialog) on screen: without it an idle terminal has
+        // no panel damage / animation, so the frame would be discarded and
+        // the overlay would flicker out.
+        let should_present = force_present || any_panel_dirty || has_animation;
 
         if self.renderer.custom_mouse_cursor {
             let scale = self.sugarloaf.scale_factor();