diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
index e64fa3d..c0679ad 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+0.7.2
+ - fix: when --version is passed, don't load the entire UI to prevent
+   uploads/downlodas from blocking in the background
+ - ref: add pyqtSlots where appropriate
 0.7.1
  - fix: handle connection errors on startup when no internet connection
    is available (#34)
diff --git a/dcoraid/gui/download/widget_download.py b/dcoraid/gui/download/widget_download.py
index ddb09b3..6e0fd4d 100644
--- a/dcoraid/gui/download/widget_download.py
+++ b/dcoraid/gui/download/widget_download.py
@@ -67,14 +67,17 @@ def set_job_list(self, jobs):
         # This is the actual initialization
         self.jobs = jobs
 
+    @QtCore.pyqtSlot(str)
     def on_job_abort(self, resource_id):
         self.jobs.abort_job(resource_id)
 
+    @QtCore.pyqtSlot(str)
     def on_job_delete(self, resource_id):
         self.jobs.remove_job(resource_id)
         self.clearContents()
         self.update_job_status()
 
+    @QtCore.pyqtSlot(str)
     def on_download_finished(self, resource_id):
         """Triggers download_finished whenever a download is finished"""
         if resource_id not in self._finished_downloads:
diff --git a/dcoraid/gui/main.py b/dcoraid/gui/main.py
index 3551d31..f3006fd 100644
--- a/dcoraid/gui/main.py
+++ b/dcoraid/gui/main.py
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         and exit.
         """
         super(DCORAid, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        # if "--version" was specified, print the version and exit
+        if "--version" in sys.argv:
+            print(__version__)
+            QtWidgets.QApplication.processEvents(QtCore.QEventLoop.AllEvents,
+                                                 300)
+            sys.exit(0)
+
         # Settings are stored in the .ini file format. Even though
         # `self.settings` may return integer/bool in the same session,
         # in the next session, it will reliably return strings. Lists
@@ -69,12 +77,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         path_ui = pkg_resources.resource_filename(
             "dcoraid.gui", "main.ui")
         uic.loadUi(path_ui, self)
-        # if "--version" was specified, print the version and exit
-        if "--version" in sys.argv:
-            print(__version__)
-            QtWidgets.QApplication.processEvents(QtCore.QEventLoop.AllEvents,
-                                                 300)
-            sys.exit(0)
+
         # GUI
         # Preferences dialog
         self.dlg_pref = PreferencesDialog()
@@ -140,6 +143,7 @@ def close(self):
                                              3000)
         super(DCORAid, self).close()
 
+    @QtCore.pyqtSlot()
     def on_action_about(self):
         dcor = "https://dcor.mpl.mpg.de"
         gh = "DCOR-dev/DCOR-Aid"
@@ -155,6 +159,7 @@ def on_action_about(self):
                                     "DCOR-Aid {}".format(__version__),
                                     about_text)
 
+    @QtCore.pyqtSlot()
     def on_action_software(self):
         libs = [dclab,
                 requests,
diff --git a/dcoraid/gui/upload/widget_upload.py b/dcoraid/gui/upload/widget_upload.py
index 57446eb..aaa0433 100644
--- a/dcoraid/gui/upload/widget_upload.py
+++ b/dcoraid/gui/upload/widget_upload.py
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ def set_actions_item(self, row, col, job):
         """
         wid = self.cellWidget(row, col)
         if wid is None:
-            wid = TableCellActions(job)
+            wid = TableCellActions(job, parent=self)
             wid.delete_job.connect(self.on_job_delete)
             wid.abort_job.connect(self.on_job_abort)
             self.setCellWidget(row, col, wid)