diff --git a/libmapper/app.c b/libmapper/app.c
index 14d8ab0..9ead753 100644
--- a/libmapper/app.c
+++ b/libmapper/app.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
  */
 #include "config.h"
 
+#include <errno.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <systemd/sd-bus.h>
@@ -147,8 +148,19 @@
     r = sd_event_loop(loop);
     if (r < 0)
     {
-        fprintf(stderr, "Error starting event loop: %s\n", strerror(-r));
-        goto finish;
+        /* If this function has been called after the interface in   */
+        /* question has already been removed, then GetSubTree will   */
+        /* fail and it will show up here.  Treat as success instead. */
+        if (r == -ENXIO)
+        {
+            r = 0;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            fprintf(stderr, "Error starting event loop: %d(%s)\n", r,
+                    strerror(-r));
+            goto finish;
+        }
     }
 
 finish: