diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
index 6cc6b99ce..676f218f2 100644
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -338,8 +338,7 @@ void BitcoinApplication::createWindow(bool isaTestNet)
 
 void BitcoinApplication::createSplashScreen(bool isaTestNet)
 {
-    SplashScreen *splash = new SplashScreen(QPixmap(), 0, isaTestNet);
-    splash->setAttribute(Qt::WA_DeleteOnClose);
+    SplashScreen *splash = new SplashScreen(0, isaTestNet);
     splash->show();
     connect(this, SIGNAL(splashFinished(QWidget*)), splash, SLOT(slotFinish(QWidget*)));
 }
@@ -423,8 +422,6 @@ void BitcoinApplication::initializeResult(int retval)
         }
 #endif
 
-        emit splashFinished(window);
-
         // If -min option passed, start window minimized.
         if(GetBoolArg("-min", false))
         {
@@ -434,6 +431,8 @@ void BitcoinApplication::initializeResult(int retval)
         {
             window->show();
         }
+        emit splashFinished(window);
+
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
         // Now that initialization/startup is done, process any command-line
         // bitcoin: URIs or payment requests:
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
index 5dd110b36..b6443d47f 100644
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@
 
 #include <QApplication>
 #include <QPainter>
+#include <QDesktopWidget>
 
-SplashScreen::SplashScreen(const QPixmap &pixmap, Qt::WindowFlags f, bool isTestNet) :
-    QSplashScreen(pixmap, f)
+SplashScreen::SplashScreen(Qt::WindowFlags f, bool isTestNet) :
+    QWidget(0, f), curAlignment(0)
 {
-    setAutoFillBackground(true);
+    //setAutoFillBackground(true);
 
     // set reference point, paddings
     int paddingRight            = 50;
@@ -38,15 +39,14 @@ SplashScreen::SplashScreen(const QPixmap &pixmap, Qt::WindowFlags f, bool isTest
     QString font            = "Arial";
 
     // load the bitmap for writing some text over it
-    QPixmap newPixmap;
     if(isTestNet) {
-        newPixmap     = QPixmap(":/images/splash_testnet");
+        pixmap     = QPixmap(":/images/splash_testnet");
     }
     else {
-        newPixmap     = QPixmap(":/images/splash");
+        pixmap     = QPixmap(":/images/splash");
     }
 
-    QPainter pixPaint(&newPixmap);
+    QPainter pixPaint(&pixmap);
     pixPaint.setPen(QColor(100,100,100));
 
     // check font size and drawing with
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ SplashScreen::SplashScreen(const QPixmap &pixmap, Qt::WindowFlags f, bool isTest
     pixPaint.setFont(QFont(font, 33*fontFactor));
     fm = pixPaint.fontMetrics();
     titleTextWidth  = fm.width(titleText);
-    pixPaint.drawText(newPixmap.width()-titleTextWidth-paddingRight,paddingTop,titleText);
+    pixPaint.drawText(pixmap.width()-titleTextWidth-paddingRight,paddingTop,titleText);
 
     pixPaint.setFont(QFont(font, 15*fontFactor));
 
@@ -72,11 +72,11 @@ SplashScreen::SplashScreen(const QPixmap &pixmap, Qt::WindowFlags f, bool isTest
         pixPaint.setFont(QFont(font, 10*fontFactor));
         titleVersionVSpace -= 5;
     }
-    pixPaint.drawText(newPixmap.width()-titleTextWidth-paddingRight+2,paddingTop+titleVersionVSpace,versionText);
+    pixPaint.drawText(pixmap.width()-titleTextWidth-paddingRight+2,paddingTop+titleVersionVSpace,versionText);
 
     // draw copyright stuff
     pixPaint.setFont(QFont(font, 10*fontFactor));
-    pixPaint.drawText(newPixmap.width()-titleTextWidth-paddingRight,paddingTop+titleCopyrightVSpace,copyrightText);
+    pixPaint.drawText(pixmap.width()-titleTextWidth-paddingRight,paddingTop+titleCopyrightVSpace,copyrightText);
 
     // draw testnet string if testnet is on
     if(isTestNet) {
@@ -85,12 +85,22 @@ SplashScreen::SplashScreen(const QPixmap &pixmap, Qt::WindowFlags f, bool isTest
         pixPaint.setFont(boldFont);
         fm = pixPaint.fontMetrics();
         int testnetAddTextWidth  = fm.width(testnetAddText);
-        pixPaint.drawText(newPixmap.width()-testnetAddTextWidth-10,15,testnetAddText);
+        pixPaint.drawText(pixmap.width()-testnetAddTextWidth-10,15,testnetAddText);
     }
 
     pixPaint.end();
 
-    this->setPixmap(newPixmap);
+    // Set window title
+    if(isTestNet)
+        setWindowTitle(titleText + " " + testnetAddText);
+    else
+        setWindowTitle(titleText);
+
+    // Resize window and move to center of desktop, disallow resizing
+    QRect r(QPoint(), pixmap.size());
+    resize(r.size());
+    setFixedSize(r.size());
+    move(QApplication::desktop()->screenGeometry().center() - r.center());
 
     subscribeToCoreSignals();
 }
@@ -102,7 +112,8 @@ SplashScreen::~SplashScreen()
 
 void SplashScreen::slotFinish(QWidget *mainWin)
 {
-    finish(mainWin);
+    hide();
+    deleteLater();
 }
 
 static void InitMessage(SplashScreen *splash, const std::string &message)
@@ -146,3 +157,21 @@ void SplashScreen::unsubscribeFromCoreSignals()
         pwalletMain->ShowProgress.disconnect(boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2));
 #endif
 }
+
+void SplashScreen::showMessage(const QString &message, int alignment, const QColor &color)
+{
+    curMessage = message;
+    curAlignment = alignment;
+    curColor = color;
+    update();
+}
+
+void SplashScreen::paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event)
+{
+    QPainter painter(this);
+    painter.drawPixmap(0, 0, pixmap);
+    QRect r = rect().adjusted(5, 5, -5, -5);
+    painter.setPen(curColor);
+    painter.drawText(r, curAlignment, curMessage);
+}
+
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.h b/src/qt/splashscreen.h
index d79038d81..1151d6c11 100644
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.h
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.h
@@ -9,23 +9,34 @@
 
 /** class for the splashscreen with information of the running client
  */
-class SplashScreen : public QSplashScreen
+class SplashScreen : public QWidget
 {
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    explicit SplashScreen(const QPixmap &pixmap, Qt::WindowFlags f, bool isTestNet);
+    explicit SplashScreen(Qt::WindowFlags f, bool isTestNet);
     ~SplashScreen();
 
+protected:
+     void paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event);
+
 public slots:
     /** Slot to call finish() method as it's not defined as slot */
     void slotFinish(QWidget *mainWin);
 
+    /** Show message and progress */
+    void showMessage(const QString &message, int alignment, const QColor &color);
+
 private:
     /** Connect core signals to splash screen */
     void subscribeToCoreSignals();
     /** Disconnect core signals to splash screen */
     void unsubscribeFromCoreSignals();
+
+    QPixmap pixmap;
+    QString curMessage;
+    QColor curColor;
+    int curAlignment;
 };
 
 #endif // SPLASHSCREEN_H