diff --git a/gramps/cli/arghandler.py b/gramps/cli/arghandler.py
index 3a99a8415..275053d14 100644
--- a/gramps/cli/arghandler.py
+++ b/gramps/cli/arghandler.py
@@ -152,15 +152,11 @@ class ArgHandler(object):
 
     def __init__(self, dbstate, parser, sessionmanager, 
                         errorfunc=None, gui=False):
-        from .user import User
-
         self.dbstate = dbstate
         self.sm = sessionmanager
         self.errorfunc = errorfunc
         self.gui = gui
-        self.user = User(error=self.__error, 
-                auto_accept=parser.auto_accept,
-                quiet=parser.quiet)
+        self.user = sessionmanager.user
         if self.gui:
             self.actions = []
             self.list = False
diff --git a/gramps/cli/grampscli.py b/gramps/cli/grampscli.py
index 6b9240da3..03cfe04ef 100644
--- a/gramps/cli/grampscli.py
+++ b/gramps/cli/grampscli.py
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ class CLIManager(object):
     Aim is to manage a dbstate on which to work (load, unload), and interact
     with the plugin session
     """
-    def __init__(self, dbstate, setloader):
+    def __init__(self, dbstate, setloader, user):
         self.dbstate = dbstate
         if setloader:
             self.db_loader = CLIDbLoader(self.dbstate)
@@ -221,6 +221,7 @@ class CLIManager(object):
             self.db_loader = None
         self.file_loaded = False
         self._pmgr = BasePluginManager.get_instance()
+        self.user = user
 
     def open_activate(self, path):
         """
@@ -335,8 +336,14 @@ def startcli(errors, argparser):
     
     #we need to keep track of the db state
     dbstate = DbState()
+
     #we need a manager for the CLI session
-    climanager = CLIManager(dbstate, True)
+    from .user import User
+    user=User(error=self.__error, 
+            auto_accept=argparser.auto_accept,
+            quiet=argparser.quiet)
+    climanager = CLIManager(dbstate, setloader=True, user=user)
+
     #load the plugins
     climanager.do_reg_plugins(dbstate, uistate=None)
     # handle the arguments
diff --git a/gramps/gen/merge/diff.py b/gramps/gen/merge/diff.py
index ac5f4a0aa..8b3f2c947 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/merge/diff.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/merge/diff.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def import_as_dict(filename, user=None):
         user = User()
     db = DictionaryDb()
     dbstate = DbState()
-    climanager = CLIManager(dbstate, False) # do not load db_loader
+    climanager = CLIManager(dbstate, setloader=False, user=user)
     climanager.do_reg_plugins(dbstate, None)
     pmgr = BasePluginManager.get_instance()
     (name, ext) = os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(filename))
diff --git a/gramps/gui/grampsgui.py b/gramps/gui/grampsgui.py
index a0b634ef7..83fd3f7fa 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/grampsgui.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/grampsgui.py
@@ -272,7 +272,8 @@ See the Gramps README documentation for installation prerequisites,
 typically located in /usr/share/doc/gramps.""") % glocale.lang)
 
         dbstate = DbState()
-        self.vm = ViewManager(dbstate, config.get("interface.view-categories"))
+        self.vm = ViewManager(dbstate, 
+                config.get("interface.view-categories"))
         self.vm.init_interface()
 
         #act based on the given arguments
diff --git a/gramps/gui/viewmanager.py b/gramps/gui/viewmanager.py
index aec579a73..c9846d02f 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/viewmanager.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/viewmanager.py
@@ -273,13 +273,13 @@ class ViewManager(CLIManager):
 
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, dbstate, view_category_order):
+    def __init__(self, dbstate, view_category_order, user = None):
         """
         The viewmanager is initialised with a dbstate on which GRAMPS is
         working, and a fixed view_category_order, which is the order in which
         the view categories are accessible in the sidebar.
         """
-        CLIManager.__init__(self, dbstate, False)
+        CLIManager.__init__(self, dbstate, setloader=False, user=user)
         if _GTKOSXAPPLICATION:
             self.macapp = QuartzApp.Application()
 
@@ -304,7 +304,11 @@ class ViewManager(CLIManager):
         self.show_toolbar = config.get('interface.toolbar-on')
         self.fullscreen = config.get('interface.fullscreen')
 
-        self.__build_main_window()
+        self.__build_main_window() # sets self.uistate
+        if self.user is None:
+            self.user = User(error=ErrorDialog,
+                    callback=self.uistate.pulse_progressbar,
+                    uistate=self.uistate)
         self.__connect_signals()
         if _GTKOSXAPPLICATION:
             self.macapp.ready()
@@ -1317,17 +1321,11 @@ class ViewManager(CLIManager):
             self.uistate.push_message(self.dbstate, _("Making backup..."))
             if include.get_active():
                 from gramps.plugins.export.exportpkg import PackageWriter
-                writer = PackageWriter(self.dbstate.db, filename,
-                                       User(error=ErrorDialog,
-                                       callback=self.uistate.pulse_progressbar,
-                                       uistate=self.uistate))
+                writer = PackageWriter(self.dbstate.db, filename, self.user)
                 writer.export()
             else:
                 from gramps.plugins.export.exportxml import XmlWriter
-                writer = XmlWriter(self.dbstate.db,
-                                   User(error=ErrorDialog,
-                                   callback=self.uistate.pulse_progressbar,
-                                   uistate=self.uistate),
+                writer = XmlWriter(self.dbstate.db, self.user,
                                    strip_photos=0, compress=1)
                 writer.write(filename)
             self.uistate.set_busy_cursor(False)
diff --git a/gramps/guiQML/viewmanager.py b/gramps/guiQML/viewmanager.py
index 2164fc399..5385eb159 100644
--- a/gramps/guiQML/viewmanager.py
+++ b/gramps/guiQML/viewmanager.py
@@ -78,16 +78,21 @@ class ViewManager(CLIManager):
     """ 
     Manages main widget by holding what state it is in.
     """
-    def __init__(self, dbstate):
+    def __init__(self, dbstate, user = None):
         """
         The viewmanager is initialised with a dbstate on which GRAMPS is
         working.
         """
         self.__centralview = None
-        CLIManager.__init__(self, dbstate, False)
+        CLIManager.__init__(self, dbstate, setloader=False, user=user)
         self.db_loader = CLIDbLoader(self.dbstate)
         #there is one DeclarativeEngine for global settings
         self.__build_main_window()
+        from .questiondialog import ErrorDialog
+        if self.user is None:
+            self.user = User(error=ErrorDialog,
+                    callback=self.uistate.pulse_progressbar,
+                    uistate=self.uistate)
 
     def __build_main_window(self):
         """