Is the form modeless? If so, you might try using BindEvents and not directly releasing the form in the close or 'X' upper left button. Use BindEvents to bind the Release and QueryUnload events after you have called the form to a custom form close handler. Also, you would pass the object that has the custom form handler to the form in the Init event as a parameter and store into a custom property. In your close button or when you want to programmically close the form, call the close form handler via RAISEEVENTS command (this way the form is not caught in a dangling object reference). In the close form handler, you would first set the form's visible property to False and then release the bindevents and finally release the form. Now the user will see the form disappear quickly but the form can 'take it's time' to destroy.