diff --git a/libgui/src/octave-gui.cc b/libgui/src/octave-gui.cc
--- a/libgui/src/octave-gui.cc
+++ b/libgui/src/octave-gui.cc
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@
 #include "main-window.h"
 #include "octave-gui.h"
 
+#if defined (HAVE_SYS_IOCTL_H)
+#include <sys/ioctl.h>
+#endif
+
 // Dissociate from the controlling terminal, if any.
 
 static void
@@ -80,7 +84,12 @@
 int
 octave_start_gui (int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-  dissociate_terminal ();
+  // dissociate_terminal ();
+
+#if defined (HAVE_SYS_IOCTL_H)
+  // Give up controlling terminal.
+  ioctl (0, TIOCNOTTY);
+#endif
 
   QApplication application (argc, argv);