diff --git a/espanso-mac-utils/src/ffi.rs b/espanso-mac-utils/src/ffi.rs
index 190a673..407abb6 100644
--- a/espanso-mac-utils/src/ffi.rs
+++ b/espanso-mac-utils/src/ffi.rs
@@ -29,4 +29,6 @@ extern "C" {
   pub fn mac_utils_prompt_accessibility() -> i32;
   pub fn mac_utils_transition_to_foreground_app();
   pub fn mac_utils_transition_to_background_app();
+  pub fn mac_utils_start_headless_eventloop();
+  pub fn mac_utils_exit_headless_eventloop();
 }
diff --git a/espanso-mac-utils/src/lib.rs b/espanso-mac-utils/src/lib.rs
index de6c3b3..a338ae3 100644
--- a/espanso-mac-utils/src/lib.rs
+++ b/espanso-mac-utils/src/lib.rs
@@ -113,6 +113,20 @@ pub fn convert_to_background_app() {
   }
 }
 
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+pub fn start_headless_eventloop() {
+  unsafe {
+    ffi::mac_utils_start_headless_eventloop();
+  }
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
+pub fn exit_headless_eventloop() {
+  unsafe {
+    ffi::mac_utils_exit_headless_eventloop();
+  }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
 mod tests {
diff --git a/espanso-mac-utils/src/native.h b/espanso-mac-utils/src/native.h
index 984b540..b44ee48 100644
--- a/espanso-mac-utils/src/native.h
+++ b/espanso-mac-utils/src/native.h
@@ -40,4 +40,8 @@ extern "C" void mac_utils_transition_to_foreground_app();
 // When called, convert the current process to a background app (hide the dock icon).
 extern "C" void mac_utils_transition_to_background_app();
 
+// Start and stop a "headless" eventloop to receive NSApplication events.
+extern "C" void mac_utils_start_headless_eventloop();
+extern "C" void mac_utils_exit_headless_eventloop();
+
 #endif //ESPANSO_MAC_UTILS_H
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso-mac-utils/src/native.mm b/espanso-mac-utils/src/native.mm
index 75ff286..b17f034 100644
--- a/espanso-mac-utils/src/native.mm
+++ b/espanso-mac-utils/src/native.mm
@@ -88,4 +88,16 @@ void mac_utils_transition_to_foreground_app() {
 void mac_utils_transition_to_background_app() {
   ProcessSerialNumber psn = { 0, kCurrentProcess };
   TransformProcessType(&psn, kProcessTransformToUIElementApplication);
+}
+
+void mac_utils_start_headless_eventloop() {
+  NSApplication * application = [NSApplication sharedApplication];
+  [NSApp run];
+}
+
+void mac_utils_exit_headless_eventloop() {
+  dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(void) {
+    [NSApp stop:nil];
+    [NSApp abortModal];
+  });
 }
\ No newline at end of file