diff --git a/shell/ChangeLog b/shell/ChangeLog
index 1bfe966..fc8da72 100644
--- a/shell/ChangeLog
+++ b/shell/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+2006-09-11  Stephen Cook  <siti@orcon.net.nz>
+	
+	* main.c: fix startup notification problem (closes: #271851)
+	
 2006-08-02  Andre Klapper  <a9016009@gmx.de>
 
 	* main.c: update last stable version number from 2.6.2 to 2.6.3
diff --git a/shell/main.c b/shell/main.c
index f5f3d13..90665a0 100644
--- a/shell/main.c
+++ b/shell/main.c
@@ -400,8 +400,12 @@ #endif
 
 	CORBA_exception_free (&ev);
 	
-	if (shell == NULL)
+	if (shell == NULL) {
+		/*there is another instance but because we don't open any windows
+		we must notify the startup was complete manually*/
+		gdk_notify_startup_complete ();
 		bonobo_main_quit ();
+	}
 
 	return FALSE;
 }
