diff --git a/application.go b/application.go
index 7a48c1c..6404556 100644
--- a/application.go
+++ b/application.go
@@ -147,7 +147,11 @@ func RunApplication (application Application) {
 	// open config
 	globalConfig, err := ApplicationConfig(GlobalApplicationDescription())
 	if err != nil { log.Fatalln("nasin: could not open config:", err) }
-	defer globalConfig.Close()
+	currentGlobalConfig = globalConfig
+	defer func () {
+		globalConfig.Close()
+		currentGlobalConfig = nil
+	} ()
 	styleConfigKey   := "Style"
 	iconSetConfigKey := "IconSet"
 
@@ -224,6 +228,13 @@ func ApplicationConfig (app ApplicationDescription) (config.ConfigCloser, error)
 	return config.NewConfig(user, system...)
 }
 
+var currentGlobalConfig config.Config
+// GlobalConfig returns the global config. This is managed by Nasin and must not
+// be closed by the application.
+func GlobalConfig () config.Config {
+	return currentGlobalConfig
+}
+
 func errorPopupf (title, format string, v ...any) func (func ()) {
 	return func (callback func ()) {
 		dialog, err := objects.NewDialogOk (