Block/Unblock the signal handler when if it's unblocked/blocked. Trying to unblock the handler when it has not been blocked yet causes a 'handler not blocked' error message. When this message is added in the debug window, it goes into a mutex-lock from this line: gtk_list_store_append(debug_win->store, &iter); I have noticed this before on some occasions, where pidgin goes into a freeze when doing something from a signal-handler causes a debug message to be printed. Anyone knows why?