diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 08a8af89f0..167d760cf5 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -786,6 +786,14 @@ void Application::aboutToQuit() {
 }
 
 void Application::cleanupBeforeQuit() {
+    // Terminate third party processes so that they're not left running in the event of a subsequent shutdown crash
+#ifdef HAVE_DDE
+    DependencyManager::destroy<DdeFaceTracker>();
+#endif
+#ifdef HAVE_IVIEWHMD
+    DependencyManager::destroy<EyeTracker>();
+#endif
+
     if (_keyboardFocusHighlightID > 0) {
         getOverlays().deleteOverlay(_keyboardFocusHighlightID);
         _keyboardFocusHighlightID = -1;
@@ -833,13 +841,6 @@ void Application::cleanupBeforeQuit() {
 
     // destroy the AudioClient so it and its thread have a chance to go down safely
     DependencyManager::destroy<AudioClient>();
-
-#ifdef HAVE_DDE
-    DependencyManager::destroy<DdeFaceTracker>();
-#endif
-#ifdef HAVE_IVIEWHMD
-    DependencyManager::destroy<EyeTracker>();
-#endif
 }
 
 void Application::emptyLocalCache() {
diff --git a/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.cpp b/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.cpp
index 396539c3cf..02cdb4bad8 100644
--- a/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/devices/DdeFaceTracker.cpp
@@ -254,9 +254,8 @@ void DdeFaceTracker::setEnabled(bool enabled) {
         _ddeProcess = new QProcess(qApp);
         connect(_ddeProcess, SIGNAL(finished(int, QProcess::ExitStatus)), SLOT(processFinished(int, QProcess::ExitStatus)));
         _ddeProcess->start(QCoreApplication::applicationDirPath() + DDE_PROGRAM_PATH, DDE_ARGUMENTS);
-    }
-
-    if (!enabled && _ddeProcess) {
+    } else {
+        // Send a command to stop face tracker evening if no _ddeProcess in case DDE has been left running after a crash
         _ddeStopping = true;
         _udpSocket.writeDatagram(DDE_EXIT_COMMAND, DDE_SERVER_ADDR, _controlPort);
         qCDebug(interfaceapp) << "DDE Face Tracker: Stopping";