diff --git a/app/window.go b/app/window.go
index e1615b9a..8ddc21e6 100644
--- a/app/window.go
+++ b/app/window.go
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ type Window struct {
 	}
 	imeState editorState
 	driver   driver
+	// gpuErr tracks the GPU error that is to be reported when
+	// the window is closed.
+	gpuErr error
 
 	// invMu protects mayInvalidate.
 	invMu         sync.Mutex
@@ -227,7 +230,8 @@ func (w *Window) processFrame(frame *op.Ops, ack chan<- struct{}) {
 	w.lastFrame.deco.Add(wrapper)
 	if err := w.validateAndProcess(w.lastFrame.size, w.lastFrame.sync, wrapper, ack); err != nil {
 		w.destroyGPU()
-		w.driver.ProcessEvent(DestroyEvent{Err: err})
+		w.gpuErr = err
+		w.driver.Perform(system.ActionClose)
 		return
 	}
 	w.updateState()
@@ -637,6 +641,9 @@ func (w *Window) processEvent(e event.Event) bool {
 		e2.Size = e2.Size.Sub(offset)
 		w.coalesced.frame = &e2
 	case DestroyEvent:
+		if w.gpuErr != nil {
+			e2.Err = w.gpuErr
+		}
 		w.destroyGPU()
 		w.invMu.Lock()
 		w.mayInvalidate = false