diff --git a/sc2/ChangeLog b/sc2/ChangeLog
index 6a8982499..35394f0f5 100644
--- a/sc2/ChangeLog
+++ b/sc2/ChangeLog
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 Changes towards version 0.7:
+- Popup windows for "Really Exit?" and Game Pause are immune to fades 
+  and crossfades (Bug #455) - Michael
 - No longer depend on SDLK_LAST statically; key input should now be safe 
   if compiled with a different version of SDL than the one running the 
   program (Bug #936, possibly also #883) - Michael
diff --git a/sc2/src/sc2code/confirm.c b/sc2/src/sc2code/confirm.c
index abdda7517..cb2c0c0ed 100644
--- a/sc2/src/sc2code/confirm.c
+++ b/sc2/src/sc2code/confirm.c
@@ -119,6 +119,8 @@ DoConfirmExit (void)
 		s.origin = r.corner;
 		F = CaptureDrawable (LoadDisplayPixmap (&r, (FRAME)0));
 
+		SetSystemRect (&r);
+
 		DrawConfirmationWindow (response);
 
 		// Releasing the lock lets the rotate_planet_task
@@ -159,6 +161,7 @@ DoConfirmExit (void)
 		s.frame = F;
 		DrawStamp (&s);
 		DestroyDrawable (ReleaseDrawable (s.frame));
+		ClearSystemRect ();
 		if (response)
 		{
 			result = TRUE;
diff --git a/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/gfxlib.h b/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/gfxlib.h
index 20947decc..2d13f4f6d 100644
--- a/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/gfxlib.h
+++ b/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/gfxlib.h
@@ -275,6 +275,8 @@ extern void FlushColorXForms (void);
 #define GetColorMapAddress GetStringAddress
 #define GetColorMapContents GetStringContents
 
+void SetSystemRect (PRECT pRect);
+void ClearSystemRect (void);
 
 #endif /* _GFX_PROTOS */
 
diff --git a/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/graphics/sdl/sdl_common.c b/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/graphics/sdl/sdl_common.c
index ef81daf21..b4ee9134b 100644
--- a/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/graphics/sdl/sdl_common.c
+++ b/sc2/src/sc2code/libs/graphics/sdl/sdl_common.c
@@ -214,6 +214,25 @@ TFB_ProcessEvents ()
 #endif  /* DEBUG */
 }
 
+static BOOLEAN system_box_active = 0;
+static SDL_Rect system_box;
+
+void
+SetSystemRect (PRECT r)
+{
+	system_box_active = TRUE;
+	system_box.x = r->corner.x;
+	system_box.y = r->corner.y;
+	system_box.w = r->extent.width;
+	system_box.h = r->extent.height;
+}
+
+void
+ClearSystemRect (void)
+{
+	system_box_active = FALSE;
+}
+
 void
 TFB_SwapBuffers (int force_full_redraw)
 {
@@ -259,6 +278,11 @@ TFB_SwapBuffers (int force_full_redraw)
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (system_box_active)
+	{
+		graphics_backend->screen (TFB_SCREEN_MAIN, 255, &system_box);
+	}
+
 	graphics_backend->postprocess ();
 }
 
diff --git a/sc2/src/sc2code/util.c b/sc2/src/sc2code/util.c
index 6e508f75c..e689a51a9 100644
--- a/sc2/src/sc2code/util.c
+++ b/sc2/src/sc2code/util.c
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ PauseGame (void)
 	s.origin = r.corner;
 	s.frame = ActivityFrame;
 	F = CaptureDrawable (LoadDisplayPixmap (&r, (FRAME)0));
+	SetSystemRect (&r);
 	DrawStamp (&s);
 
 	// Releasing the lock lets the rotate_planet_task
@@ -201,6 +202,7 @@ PauseGame (void)
 	s.frame = F;
 	DrawStamp (&s);
 	DestroyDrawable (ReleaseDrawable (s.frame));
+	ClearSystemRect ();
 
 	SetContextClipRect (&OldRect);
 	SetFrameHot (Screen, OldHot);