diff --git a/Core/GameEngine/Include/GameClient/Shell.h b/Core/GameEngine/Include/GameClient/Shell.h
index a593f3cbcba..262f89c3bc4 100644
--- a/Core/GameEngine/Include/GameClient/Shell.h
+++ b/Core/GameEngine/Include/GameClient/Shell.h
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class Shell : public SubsystemInterface
 	// pseudo-stack operations for manipulating layouts
 	void push( AsciiString filename, Bool shutdownImmediate = FALSE );	///< load new screen on top, optionally doing an immediate shutdown
 	void pop();																				///< pop top layout
-	void popImmediate();															///< pop now, don't wait for shutdown
+	void popImmediate();															///< pop now
 	void showShell( Bool runInit = TRUE );									///< init the top of stack
 	void hideShell();																	///< shutdown the top of stack
 	WindowLayout *top();															///< return top layout
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ class Shell : public SubsystemInterface
 
 	void construct();
 	void deconstruct();
+	void destroyScreenStack();													///< tear down all screens without initializing uncovered layouts
 
 	void linkScreen( WindowLayout *screen );								///< link screen to list
 	void unlinkScreen( WindowLayout *screen );							///< remove screen from list
diff --git a/Core/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/GUI/Shell/Shell.cpp b/Core/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/GUI/Shell/Shell.cpp
index 1b6278d02db..a9a65928861 100644
--- a/Core/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/GUI/Shell/Shell.cpp
+++ b/Core/GameEngine/Source/GameClient/GUI/Shell/Shell.cpp
@@ -90,12 +90,7 @@ void Shell::construct()
 //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void Shell::deconstruct()
 {
-	WindowLayout *newTop = top();
-	while(newTop)
-	{
-		popImmediate();
-		newTop = top();
-	}
+	destroyScreenStack();
 
 	if(m_background)
 	{
@@ -138,6 +133,31 @@ void Shell::deconstruct()
 	}
 }
 
+//-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+/** TheSuperHackers @bugfix CryoTheRenegade 10/08/2026 Tear down every screen on the stack without initializing uncovered layouts.
+	* Used when the shell itself is being destroyed. */
+//-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void Shell::destroyScreenStack()
+{
+	while( top() )
+	{
+		WindowLayout *screen = top();
+
+		// do NOT set pending pop, we are going to force a pop after the shutdown is run
+		m_pendingPop = FALSE;
+
+		Bool immediatePop = TRUE;
+		screen->runShutdown( &immediatePop );
+
+		unlinkScreen( screen );
+		screen->destroyWindows();
+		deleteInstance( screen );
+	}
+
+	if (TheIMEManager)
+		TheIMEManager->detach();
+}
+
 //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 /** Initialize the shell system */
 //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------