diff --git a/ui/vnc.c b/ui/vnc.c
index da4a21d4ce..2f2ab62fcf 100644
--- a/ui/vnc.c
+++ b/ui/vnc.c
@@ -700,6 +700,12 @@ static void vnc_abort_display_jobs(VncDisplay *vd)
     }
     QTAILQ_FOREACH(vs, &vd->clients, next) {
         vnc_lock_output(vs);
+        if (vs->update == VNC_STATE_UPDATE_NONE &&
+            vs->job_update != VNC_STATE_UPDATE_NONE) {
+            /* job aborted before completion */
+            vs->update = vs->job_update;
+            vs->job_update = VNC_STATE_UPDATE_NONE;
+        }
         vs->abort = false;
         vnc_unlock_output(vs);
     }