diff --git a/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/CuraEngineBackend.py b/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/CuraEngineBackend.py
index a822512218..910705df42 100644
--- a/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/CuraEngineBackend.py
+++ b/plugins/CuraEngineBackend/CuraEngineBackend.py
@@ -181,6 +181,11 @@ class CuraEngineBackend(Backend):
         self.slicingCancelled.emit()
         self.processingProgress.emit(0)
         Logger.log("d", "Attempting to kill the engine process")
+
+        if Application.getInstance().getCommandLineOption("external-backend", False):
+            self._createSocket()
+            return
+
         if self._process is not None:
             Logger.log("d", "Killing engine process")
             try: