diff --git a/src/js/component/ongoing.jsx b/src/js/component/ongoing.jsx
index 547a2600..2764c67b 100644
--- a/src/js/component/ongoing.jsx
+++ b/src/js/component/ongoing.jsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { memo } from 'react';
+import cx from 'classnames';
+import { memo, useCallback, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { useSelector } from 'react-redux';
 import { pluralize } from '../common/format';
 import { Spinner } from 'web-common/components';
@@ -14,9 +15,37 @@ const getMessage = ongoing => {
 
 const Ongoing = () => {
 	const processes = useSelector(state => state.ongoing);
+	const [flash, setFlash] = useState(false);
+
+	const handleOnBeforeUnload = useCallback((ev) => {
+		if (processes.length > 0) {
+			// If user cancelled the unload, flash the ongoing pane to
+			// indicate that there are ongoing operations
+			setTimeout(() => setFlash(true), 0);
+			ev.preventDefault();
+		}
+	}, [processes.length]);
+
+	useEffect(() => {
+		window.addEventListener("beforeunload", handleOnBeforeUnload);
+		return () => {
+			window.removeEventListener("beforeunload", handleOnBeforeUnload);
+		}
+	}, [handleOnBeforeUnload]);
+
+	useEffect(() => {
+		if (flash) {
+			const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+				setFlash(false);
+			}, 700); // animation takes 2x330ms
+			return () => {
+				clearTimeout(timer);
+			}
+		}
+	}, [flash]);
 
 	return (
-		<div className="ongoing-pane hidden-touch hidden-sm-down">
+		<div className={ cx("ongoing-pane hidden-touch hidden-sm-down", { flash }) }>
 			{ processes.length > 1 ? (
 				<div className="process">
 					<Spinner className="small" />
diff --git a/src/scss/components/_ongoing.scss b/src/scss/components/_ongoing.scss
index 63c42a7a..bb688dfe 100644
--- a/src/scss/components/_ongoing.scss
+++ b/src/scss/components/_ongoing.scss
@@ -4,16 +4,55 @@
 	overflow: hidden;
 	transition: height $ongoing-transition;
 
+	&.flash {
+		animation: .33s 2 flash-background;
+
+		@keyframes flash-background {
+			0% {
+				background-color: var(transparent);
+
+			}
+
+			50% {
+				background-color: var(--color-shade-10);
+			}
+
+			100% {
+				background-color: var(transparent);
+			}
+		}
+
+		.process {
+			animation: .33s 2 flash-foreground;
+
+			@keyframes flash-foreground {
+				0% {
+					color: $ongoing-color;
+				}
+
+				50% {
+
+					color: var(--color-accent);
+				}
+
+				100% {
+					color: $ongoing-color;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	&:empty {
 		height: 0;
 	}
 
 	.process {
-		padding: $space-xs $default-padding-x;
-		border-top: $border-width solid $ongoing-border-color;
-		display: flex;
 		align-items: center;
+		border-top: $border-width solid $ongoing-border-color;
 		color: $ongoing-color;
+		display: flex;
+		font-weight: bold;
+		padding: $space-xs $default-padding-x;
 	}
 
 	.icon-spin {