diff --git a/bec_widgets/utils/bec_widget.py b/bec_widgets/utils/bec_widget.py
index fb7b172a..d7beabb0 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/utils/bec_widget.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/utils/bec_widget.py
@@ -111,8 +111,9 @@ class BECWidget(BECConnector):
     def _connect_to_theme_change(self):
         """Connect to the theme change signal."""
         qapp = QApplication.instance()
+        self._theme_connection = None
         if hasattr(qapp, "theme"):
-            SafeConnect(self, qapp.theme.theme_changed, self._update_theme)
+            self._theme_connection = SafeConnect(self, qapp.theme.theme_changed, self._update_theme)
 
     @SafeSlot(str)
     @SafeSlot()
@@ -402,6 +403,9 @@ class BECWidget(BECConnector):
 
     def cleanup(self):
         """Cleanup the widget."""
+        theme_connection = getattr(self, "_theme_connection", None)
+        if theme_connection is not None:
+            theme_connection.invalidate()
         with RPCRegister.delayed_broadcast():
             # All widgets need to call super().cleanup() in their cleanup method
             logger.info(f"Registry cleanup for widget {self.__class__.__name__}")
diff --git a/bec_widgets/utils/error_popups.py b/bec_widgets/utils/error_popups.py
index 1df1f1f4..993e2f36 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/utils/error_popups.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/utils/error_popups.py
@@ -192,13 +192,55 @@ def SafeProperty(
     return decorator
 
 
+class _SafeConnection:
+    """Weak receiver wrapper with explicit invalidation for pending deliveries."""
+
+    def __init__(self, instance, signal, slot):
+        self._active = True
+        self._connected = True
+        self._instance = safe_ref(instance)
+        self._slot = safe_ref(slot)
+        self._signal = signal
+
+    def invalidate(self, *_args) -> None:
+        """Block deliveries without touching Qt during receiver destruction."""
+        self._active = False
+
+    def _disconnect(self) -> None:
+        if not self._connected:
+            return
+        self._connected = False
+        try:
+            self._signal.disconnect(self)
+        except (RuntimeError, TypeError):
+            pass
+
+    def __call__(self, *args):
+        if not self._active:
+            self._disconnect()
+            return
+        instance = self._instance()
+        slot = self._slot()
+        if (
+            instance is None
+            or slot is None
+            or getattr(instance, "_destroyed", False)
+            or not shiboken6.isValid(instance)
+        ):
+            self.invalidate()
+            self._disconnect()
+            return
+        slot(*args)
+
+
 def SafeConnect(instance, signal, slot):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     """
     Method to safely handle Qt signal-slot connections. The python object is only forwarded
     as a weak reference to avoid stale objects. Once the instance or slot has been garbage
     collected, marked as destroyed, or its C++ object deleted, the connection removes itself
     from the signal on the next emission, so long-lived signals (e.g. theme_changed) do not
-    accumulate dead wrappers.
+    accumulate dead wrappers. Receiver destruction first marks the wrapper inactive without
+    disconnecting Qt signals in destructor context.
 
     Args:
         instance: The instance to connect.
@@ -206,38 +248,17 @@ def SafeConnect(instance, signal, slot):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
         slot: The slot to connect.
 
     Returns:
-        Callable: The wrapper connected to the signal. It can be passed to
+        Callable: The wrapper connected to the signal. Its ``invalidate()`` method blocks
+            pending deliveries at cleanup start. It can also be passed to
             ``signal.disconnect`` for explicit early disconnection.
 
     Example:
         >>> SafeConnect(self, qapp.theme.theme_changed, self._update_theme)
 
     """
-    weak_instance = safe_ref(instance)
-    weak_slot = safe_ref(slot)
-
-    def safe_slot(*connect_args):
-        instance_ = weak_instance()
-        slot_func = weak_slot()
-
-        # Instance or slot garbage collected, instance cleaned up, or C++ side
-        # deleted: remove this stale connection from the signal.
-        if (
-            instance_ is None
-            or slot_func is None
-            or getattr(instance_, "_destroyed", False)
-            or not shiboken6.isValid(instance_)
-        ):
-            try:
-                signal.disconnect(safe_slot)
-            except (RuntimeError, TypeError):
-                # Signal owner already gone or connection already removed.
-                pass
-            return
-
-        slot_func(*connect_args)
-
+    safe_slot = _SafeConnection(instance, signal, slot)
     signal.connect(safe_slot)
+    instance.destroyed.connect(safe_slot.invalidate)
     return safe_slot
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_bec_widget_lifecycle.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_bec_widget_lifecycle.py
index 4fc1aef6..9f0d6df7 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_bec_widget_lifecycle.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_bec_widget_lifecycle.py
@@ -45,6 +45,21 @@ def test_close_runs_cleanup_once(qtbot, mocked_client):
     _flush_deferred_deletes(qtbot)
 
 
+def test_cleanup_invalidates_theme_subscription_while_widget_is_valid(qtbot, mocked_client):
+    widget = LifecycleWidget(client=mocked_client)
+    connection = widget._theme_connection
+    assert connection._active
+
+    widget.cleanup()
+    assert shiboken6.isValid(widget)
+    assert not widget._destroyed
+    assert not connection._active
+
+    widget.close()
+    widget.deleteLater()
+    _flush_deferred_deletes(qtbot)
+
+
 def test_delete_later_without_close_runs_cleanup(qtbot, mocked_client):
     widget = LifecycleWidget(client=mocked_client)
     gui_id = widget.gui_id
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_error_utils.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_error_utils.py
index bd2c6bd4..f6fb5605 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_error_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_error_utils.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
 import pytest
+import shiboken6
 from bec_lib.logger import bec_logger
-from qtpy.QtCore import QObject, Signal
+from qtpy.QtCore import QObject, Qt, Signal
 from qtpy.QtWidgets import QMessageBox
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import ErrorPopupUtility, ExampleWidget, SafeProperty, SafeSlot
@@ -243,6 +244,45 @@ def test_safe_connect_removes_stale_connection(qtbot):
     emitter.deleteLater()
 
 
+def test_safe_connect_invalidated_before_queued_delivery(qtbot):
+    """An inactive subscription must not deliver an already queued signal."""
+    from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeConnect
+
+    emitter = _ArgSignalEmitter()
+    receiver = _SafeConnectReceiver()
+    wrapper = SafeConnect(receiver, emitter.str_signal, receiver.on_value)
+    emitter.str_signal.disconnect(wrapper)
+    emitter.str_signal.connect(wrapper, Qt.ConnectionType.QueuedConnection)
+
+    emitter.str_signal.emit("queued")
+    assert receiver.calls == []
+    wrapper.invalidate()
+    qtbot.wait(10)
+    assert shiboken6.isValid(receiver)
+    assert receiver.calls == []
+    # Also cover direct calls retained by code outside the Qt connection.
+    wrapper("direct")
+    assert receiver.calls == []
+    receiver.deleteLater()
+    emitter.deleteLater()
+
+
+def test_safe_connect_destruction_only_invalidates():
+    """Destruction blocks delivery without disconnecting signals in the destructor."""
+    from bec_widgets.utils.error_popups import SafeConnect
+
+    emitter = _ArgSignalEmitter()
+    receiver = _SafeConnectReceiver()
+    wrapper = SafeConnect(receiver, emitter.str_signal, receiver.on_value)
+    with patch.object(wrapper, "_disconnect") as disconnect:
+        shiboken6.delete(receiver)
+        assert not wrapper._active
+        disconnect.assert_not_called()
+    emitter.str_signal.emit("after-death")
+    assert not wrapper._connected
+    shiboken6.delete(emitter)
+
+
 def test_safe_slot_override_params_apply_to_single_call():
     """Regression test for BW-004: _override_slot_params must not permanently
     mutate the decorator's defaults."""