diff --git a/nw/gui/docmerge.py b/nw/gui/docmerge.py
index 6b16102d..f6a565d1 100644
--- a/nw/gui/docmerge.py
+++ b/nw/gui/docmerge.py
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ class GuiDocMerge(QDialog):
         self.setLayout(self.outerBox)
 
         self.rejected.connect(self._doClose)
-        self.show()
 
         self._populateList()
 
diff --git a/nw/gui/docsplit.py b/nw/gui/docsplit.py
index 98ef95d7..d143a056 100644
--- a/nw/gui/docsplit.py
+++ b/nw/gui/docsplit.py
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ class GuiDocSplit(QDialog):
         self.setLayout(self.outerBox)
 
         self.rejected.connect(self._doClose)
-        self.show()
 
         self._populateList()
 
diff --git a/nw/gui/preferences.py b/nw/gui/preferences.py
index 999464b3..31986546 100644
--- a/nw/gui/preferences.py
+++ b/nw/gui/preferences.py
@@ -71,8 +71,6 @@ class GuiPreferences(PagedDialog):
         self.buttonBox.rejected.connect(self._doClose)
         self.addControls(self.buttonBox)
 
-        self.show()
-
         logger.debug("GuiPreferences initialisation complete")
 
         return