diff --git a/WINGs/wclient_wl.c b/WINGs/wclient_wl.c
index 361a398..85fbf13 100644
--- a/WINGs/wclient_wl.c
+++ b/WINGs/wclient_wl.c
@@ -364,9 +364,17 @@ xdg_toplevel_handle_close(void *data, struct xdg_toplevel *xt)
 {
     (void)xt;
     WLClientToplevel *top = data;
-    top->want_close = 1;
-    /* TODO: synthesize a WMEvent close so the WINGs app can shut down
-     * gracefully.  For now we just exit on next event-loop turn. */
+    if (!top || !top->view) return;
+
+    W_Screen *scr = top->view->screen;
+    WMEvent ev;
+    memset(&ev, 0, sizeof(ev));
+    ev.type = WME_CLIENT_MESSAGE;
+    ev.window = top->view->window;
+    ev.u.clientMessage.message_type = scr->protocolsAtom;
+    ev.u.clientMessage.format = 32;
+    ev.u.clientMessage.data.l[0] = scr->deleteWindowAtom;
+    W_WL_EnqueueEvent(scr, &ev, top->view);
 }
 
 static void