diff --git a/include/wx/html/helpctrl.h b/include/wx/html/helpctrl.h
index 13c346ecb0..c266ae6fc1 100644
--- a/include/wx/html/helpctrl.h
+++ b/include/wx/html/helpctrl.h
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ public:
     wxHtmlHelpController(int style = wxHF_DEFAULT_STYLE, wxWindow* parentWindow = NULL);
     virtual ~wxHtmlHelpController();
 
+    void SetShouldPreventAppExit(bool enable);
+
     void SetTitleFormat(const wxString& format);
     void SetTempDir(const wxString& path) { m_helpData.SetTempDir(path); }
     bool AddBook(const wxString& book_url, bool show_wait_msg = false);
@@ -129,6 +131,8 @@ protected:
     wxHtmlHelpFrame*    m_helpFrame;
     wxHtmlHelpDialog*   m_helpDialog;
 
+    bool                m_shouldPreventAppExit;
+
     wxDECLARE_NO_COPY_CLASS(wxHtmlHelpController);
 };
 
diff --git a/include/wx/html/helpfrm.h b/include/wx/html/helpfrm.h
index a678ef60a8..85056a86a5 100644
--- a/include/wx/html/helpfrm.h
+++ b/include/wx/html/helpfrm.h
@@ -115,9 +115,11 @@ public:
     // Override to add custom buttons to the toolbar
     virtual void AddToolbarButtons(wxToolBar* WXUNUSED(toolBar), int WXUNUSED(style)) {}
 
+    void SetShouldPreventAppExit(bool enable);
+
     // we don't want to prevent the app from closing just because a help window
     // remains opened
-    virtual bool ShouldPreventAppExit() const { return false; }
+    virtual bool ShouldPreventAppExit() const { return m_shouldPreventAppExit; }
 
 protected:
     void Init(wxHtmlHelpData* data = NULL);
@@ -143,6 +145,7 @@ protected:
     wxString m_TitleFormat;  // title of the help frame
     wxHtmlHelpWindow *m_HtmlHelpWin;
     wxHtmlHelpController* m_helpController;
+    bool m_shouldPreventAppExit;
 
 private:
 
diff --git a/interface/wx/html/helpctrl.h b/interface/wx/html/helpctrl.h
index 54b5b1acaf..aed23de6d3 100644
--- a/interface/wx/html/helpctrl.h
+++ b/interface/wx/html/helpctrl.h
@@ -171,6 +171,21 @@ public:
     virtual void ReadCustomization(wxConfigBase* cfg,
                                    const wxString& path = wxEmptyString);
 
+    /**
+        Sets whether the help frame should prevent application from exiting
+        if it's the only remaining top level window.
+
+        @enable
+            If @true, the application will not quit unless the help frame is
+            closed. Default is @false, i.e. the application does exit if only
+            the help window remains opened.
+
+        @see wxApp::SetExitOnFrameDelete()
+
+        @since 2.9.2
+    */
+    void SetShouldPreventAppExit(bool enable);
+
     /**
         Sets the path for storing temporary files - cached binary versions of index and
         contents files.
diff --git a/samples/html/helpview/helpview.cpp b/samples/html/helpview/helpview.cpp
index a0b28929ed..f0fba2d056 100644
--- a/samples/html/helpview/helpview.cpp
+++ b/samples/html/helpview/helpview.cpp
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ bool MyApp::OnInit()
     delete wxLog::SetActiveTarget(new wxLogGui);
 #endif
 
+    help->SetShouldPreventAppExit(true);
+
     help -> DisplayContents();
 
     return true;
diff --git a/src/html/helpctrl.cpp b/src/html/helpctrl.cpp
index d093b99b73..faad6fb6e0 100644
--- a/src/html/helpctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/html/helpctrl.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ wxHtmlHelpController::wxHtmlHelpController(int style, wxWindow* parentWindow):
 #endif // wxUSE_CONFIG
     m_titleFormat = _("Help: %s");
     m_FrameStyle = style;
+    m_shouldPreventAppExit = false;
 }
 
 wxHtmlHelpController::~wxHtmlHelpController()
@@ -105,6 +106,13 @@ void wxHtmlHelpController::OnCloseFrame(wxCloseEvent& evt)
     m_helpFrame = NULL;
 }
 
+void wxHtmlHelpController::SetShouldPreventAppExit(bool enable)
+{
+    m_shouldPreventAppExit = enable;
+    if ( m_helpFrame )
+        m_helpFrame->SetShouldPreventAppExit(enable);
+}
+
 void wxHtmlHelpController::SetTitleFormat(const wxString& title)
 {
     m_titleFormat = title;
@@ -163,6 +171,7 @@ wxHtmlHelpFrame* wxHtmlHelpController::CreateHelpFrame(wxHtmlHelpData *data)
 #endif // wxUSE_CONFIG
         );
     frame->SetTitleFormat(m_titleFormat);
+    frame->SetShouldPreventAppExit(m_shouldPreventAppExit);
     m_helpFrame = frame;
     return frame;
 }
diff --git a/src/html/helpfrm.cpp b/src/html/helpfrm.cpp
index 9020ad8b55..c726a936eb 100644
--- a/src/html/helpfrm.cpp
+++ b/src/html/helpfrm.cpp
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ void wxHtmlHelpFrame::Init(wxHtmlHelpData* data)
     m_Data = data;
     m_HtmlHelpWin = NULL;
     m_helpController = NULL;
+    m_shouldPreventAppExit = false;
 }
 
 void wxHtmlHelpFrame::SetController(wxHtmlHelpController* controller)
@@ -246,6 +247,11 @@ void wxHtmlHelpFrame::UseConfig(wxConfigBase *config, const wxString& rootPath)
 }
 #endif // wxUSE_CONFIG
 
+void wxHtmlHelpFrame::SetShouldPreventAppExit(bool enable)
+{
+    m_shouldPreventAppExit = enable;
+}
+
 #ifdef __WXMAC__
 void wxHtmlHelpFrame::OnClose(wxCommandEvent& WXUNUSED(event))
 {