diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.cpp
index 399715dc0..d0640e4ea 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
  *******************************************************************************/
 
 #include <QMessageBox>
+#include <QCloseEvent>
 #include <QMenu>
 
 #include <algorithm>
@@ -51,7 +52,11 @@
 CreateCircleDialog::CreateCircleDialog()
 	: QDialog(NULL, Qt::WindowSystemMenuHint | Qt::WindowTitleHint | Qt::WindowMinMaxButtonsHint | Qt::WindowCloseButtonHint)
 {
-	/* Invoke the Qt Designer generated object setup routine */
+    mIdentitiesLoading = false;
+    mCircleLoading = false;
+    mCloseRequested = false;
+
+    /* Invoke the Qt Designer generated object setup routine */
 	ui.setupUi(this);
 
     setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose, false);
@@ -112,12 +117,46 @@ CreateCircleDialog::CreateCircleDialog()
     QObject::connect(ui.radioButton_Public, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)), this, SLOT(updateCircleType(bool))) ;
     QObject::connect(ui.radioButton_Self, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)), this, SLOT(updateCircleType(bool))) ;
     QObject::connect(ui.radioButton_Restricted, SIGNAL(toggled(bool)), this, SLOT(updateCircleType(bool))) ;
+
 }
 
 CreateCircleDialog::~CreateCircleDialog()
 {
 }
 
+bool CreateCircleDialog::tryClose()
+{
+    if(mIdentitiesLoading || mCircleLoading)
+    {
+        std::cerr << "Close() called. Identities or circle currently loading => not actually closing." << std::endl;
+        mCloseRequested = true;
+        return false;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        std::cerr << "Close() called. Identities not currently loading => closing." << std::endl;
+        return true;
+    }
+}
+
+void CreateCircleDialog::accept()
+{
+    if(tryClose())
+        QDialog::accept();
+}
+void CreateCircleDialog::reject()
+{
+    if(tryClose())
+        QDialog::reject();
+}
+
+void CreateCircleDialog::keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent *e)
+{
+    if(e->key() != Qt::Key_Escape || tryClose())
+        QDialog::keyPressEvent(e);
+}
+
+
 void CreateCircleDialog::editExistingId(const RsGxsGroupId &circleId, const bool &clearList /*= true*/,bool readonly)
 {
 	/* load this circle */
@@ -666,6 +705,9 @@ void CreateCircleDialog::loadCircle(const RsGxsGroupId& groupId)
 	QTreeWidget *tree = ui.treeWidget_membership;
 	if (mClearList) tree->clear();
 
+    std::cerr << "Loading circle..."<< std::endl;
+    mCircleLoading = true;
+
 	RsThread::async([groupId,this]()
 	{
 		std::vector<RsGxsCircleGroup> circlesInfo ;
@@ -691,7 +733,17 @@ void CreateCircleDialog::loadCircle(const RsGxsGroupId& groupId)
 #endif
 			updateCircleGUI();
 
-		}, this );
+            mCircleLoading = false;
+
+            std::cerr << "finished loading circle..."<< std::endl;
+
+            if(mCloseRequested && !mIdentitiesLoading)
+            {
+                std::cerr << "Close() previously called, so closing now." << std::endl;
+                close();
+            }
+
+        }, this );
 	});
 
 }
@@ -700,6 +752,8 @@ void CreateCircleDialog::loadIdentities()
 {
     std::cerr << "Loading identities..." << std::endl;
 
+    mIdentitiesLoading = true;
+
 	RsThread::async([this]()
 	{
 		std::list<RsGroupMetaData> ids_meta;
@@ -735,7 +789,17 @@ void CreateCircleDialog::loadIdentities()
 			fillIdentitiesList(*id_groups);
 
             delete id_groups;
-		}, this );
+
+            std::cerr << "Identities finished loading." << std::endl;
+            mIdentitiesLoading = false;
+
+            if(mCloseRequested && !mCircleLoading)
+            {
+                std::cerr << "Close() previously called, so closing now." << std::endl;
+                close();
+            }
+
+        }, this );
 	});
 
 }
@@ -756,6 +820,8 @@ void CreateCircleDialog::fillIdentitiesList(const std::vector<RsGxsIdGroup>& id_
 
 	for(const auto& idGroup:id_groups)
 	{
+        //usleep(20*1000);
+
 		bool isSigned = !idGroup.mPgpId.isNull();
 		bool isSignedByFriendNode = isSigned && rsPeers->isPgpFriend(idGroup.mPgpId);
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.h
index 8ced0ecdc..fbbaacb2c 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/Circles/CreateCircleDialog.h
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ public:
 	void addCircle(const RsGxsCircleDetails &cirDetails);
 
 private slots:
-	void addMember();
+
+    void addMember();
 	void removeMember();
 
 	void updateCircleType(bool b);
@@ -60,6 +61,12 @@ private slots:
 	void IdListCustomPopupMenu( QPoint point );
 	void MembershipListCustomPopupMenu( QPoint point);
 
+protected:
+    virtual void keyPressEvent(QKeyEvent *e) override;
+    virtual void accept() override;
+    virtual void reject() override;
+
+    bool tryClose();
 private:
 
 	void updateCircleGUI();
@@ -69,7 +76,10 @@ private:
 
 	bool mIsExistingCircle;
 	bool mIsExternalCircle;
-    	bool mReadOnly;
+    bool mReadOnly;
+    bool mIdentitiesLoading;
+    bool mCircleLoading;
+    bool mCloseRequested;
 
 	void loadCircle(const RsGxsGroupId& groupId);
 	void loadIdentities();