diff --git a/bec_widgets/utils/bec_designer.py b/bec_widgets/utils/bec_designer.py
index d92682b2..fece831e 100644
--- a/bec_widgets/utils/bec_designer.py
+++ b/bec_widgets/utils/bec_designer.py
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ import os
 import site
 import sys
 import sysconfig
+import warnings
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from bec_qthemes import material_icon
 from qtpy import PYSIDE6
 from qtpy.QtGui import QIcon
+from qtpy.QtWidgets import QApplication
 
 from bec_widgets.utils.bec_plugin_helper import user_widget_plugin
 
@@ -25,6 +27,47 @@ if PYSIDE6:
 import bec_widgets
 
 
+def _install_designer_cleanup() -> None:
+    """Release pyqtgraph's application callbacks before Designer finalizes Python.
+
+    Designer owns the QApplication in C++; its style hints outlive the embedded
+    interpreter. A Python callback left connected there can crash on destruction.
+    Install this only through Designer's icon entry point, preserving normal apps
+    and keeping theme updates active until Designer quits.
+    """
+    app = QApplication.instance()
+    if app is None or getattr(app, "_bec_designer_cleanup_installed", False):
+        return
+
+    def cleanup():
+        # This callback must also be released while Python is still initialized.
+        app.aboutToQuit.disconnect(cleanup)
+        app._bec_designer_cleanup_installed = False
+        pg_qt = sys.modules.get("pyqtgraph.Qt")
+        if pg_qt is None or getattr(pg_qt, "QAPP", None) is not app:
+            return
+        callbacks = (
+            (app.styleHints().colorSchemeChanged, "_onColorSchemeChange"),
+            (app.paletteChanged, "_onPaletteChange"),
+        )
+        for signal, name in callbacks:
+            callback = getattr(pg_qt, name, None)
+            if callback is None:
+                continue
+            # pyqtgraph selects one of these callbacks depending on the Qt version.
+            with warnings.catch_warnings():
+                warnings.filterwarnings(
+                    "ignore", message=".*Failed to disconnect", category=RuntimeWarning
+                )
+                try:
+                    signal.disconnect(callback)
+                except (RuntimeError, TypeError):
+                    pass
+
+    app.aboutToQuit.connect(cleanup)
+    app._bec_designer_cleanup_installed = True
+
+
 def designer_material_icon(icon_name: str) -> QIcon:
     """
     Create a QIcon for the BECDesigner with the given material icon name.
@@ -35,6 +78,7 @@ def designer_material_icon(icon_name: str) -> QIcon:
     Returns:
         QIcon: The QIcon for the material icon.
     """
+    _install_designer_cleanup()
     return QIcon(material_icon(icon_name, filled=True, convert_to_pixmap=True))
 
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_bec_designer.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_bec_designer.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..60628b99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_bec_designer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import sys
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from unittest import mock
+
+import pytest
+from qtpy.QtCore import SIGNAL, QObject, Qt, Signal
+
+from bec_widgets.utils import bec_designer
+
+
+class _DesignerStyleHints(QObject):
+    colorSchemeChanged = Signal(object)
+
+
+class _DesignerApplication(QObject):
+    """Private signal sources: emitting quit must never shut down pytest's qapp."""
+
+    aboutToQuit = Signal()
+    paletteChanged = Signal(object)
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        super().__init__()
+        self._style_hints = _DesignerStyleHints(self)
+
+    def styleHints(self):
+        return self._style_hints
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("theme_signal", ["colorSchemeChanged", "paletteChanged"])
+def test_designer_disconnects_pyqtgraph_callbacks_on_quit(qapp, monkeypatch, theme_signal):
+    """Theme updates work until quit, then only pyqtgraph's callback is released."""
+    app = _DesignerApplication()
+    callback = mock.Mock()
+    unrelated = mock.Mock()
+    real_shutdown = mock.Mock()
+    qapp.aboutToQuit.connect(real_shutdown)
+    if theme_signal == "colorSchemeChanged":
+        signal = app.styleHints().colorSchemeChanged
+        value = Qt.ColorScheme.Dark
+        callback_name = "_onColorSchemeChange"
+    else:
+        signal = app.paletteChanged
+        value = qapp.palette()
+        callback_name = "_onPaletteChange"
+
+    pg_qt = SimpleNamespace(QAPP=app, **{callback_name: callback})
+    signal.connect(callback)
+    signal.connect(unrelated)
+    try:
+        # Restore QApplication.instance before the shared Qt fixtures tear down.
+        with mock.patch.object(bec_designer.QApplication, "instance", return_value=app):
+            bec_designer._install_designer_cleanup()
+            # Several plugins ask for icons. Only one shutdown callback is needed.
+            bec_designer._install_designer_cleanup()
+            assert app.receivers(SIGNAL("aboutToQuit()")) == 1
+            # pyqtgraph may be imported after the first plugin's icon is requested.
+            monkeypatch.setitem(sys.modules, "pyqtgraph.Qt", pg_qt)
+            signal.emit(value)
+            callback.assert_called_once()
+
+            app.aboutToQuit.emit()
+            assert not app._bec_designer_cleanup_installed
+            assert app.receivers(SIGNAL("aboutToQuit()")) == 0
+            signal.emit(value)
+            callback.assert_called_once()
+            assert unrelated.call_count == 2
+            # Self-disconnection also makes a repeated private quit harmless.
+            app.aboutToQuit.emit()
+        real_shutdown.assert_not_called()
+    finally:
+        signal.disconnect(unrelated)
+        if getattr(app, "_bec_designer_cleanup_installed", False):
+            app.aboutToQuit.emit()
+        qapp.aboutToQuit.disconnect(real_shutdown)
+        app.deleteLater()
+
+
+def test_designer_cleanup_without_application(monkeypatch):
+    with mock.patch.object(bec_designer.QApplication, "instance", return_value=None):
+        bec_designer._install_designer_cleanup()