diff --git a/etc/inc/system.inc b/etc/inc/system.inc
index ff5bd05db0..82f851e869 100644
--- a/etc/inc/system.inc
+++ b/etc/inc/system.inc
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ function system_webgui_start() {
 	$proto = "http";
 	if ($config['system']['webgui']['protocol'])
 		$proto = $config['system']['webgui']['protocol'];
-	mwexec("/usr/bin/fetch -o /dev/null -q {$proto}://localhost:{$portarg}/preload.php");
+	mwexec("/usr/bin/fetch -o /dev/null -q {$proto}://localhost:{$portarg}/preload.php &");
 
 	if ($g['booting']) {
 		if ($res == 0)