diff --git a/collects/handin-server/main.rkt b/collects/handin-server/main.rkt
index 80bc696051..2026d5964c 100644
--- a/collects/handin-server/main.rkt
+++ b/collects/handin-server/main.rkt
@@ -16,7 +16,13 @@
          ;; to be done in the main thread, rather than later in a
          ;; user session thread (that will make the global changes
          ;; not to be global.)
-         "sandbox.rkt")
+         "sandbox.rkt"
+         ;; workaround for a confusing problem: without this, the gui
+         ;; gets initialized in a handler (since checks use it, and
+         ;; they're being required dynamically), and further handlers
+         ;; will fail with "queue-callback: eventspace is shutdown",
+         ;; requiring it here makes it avoids killing the eventspace
+         racket/gui/base)
 
 (install-logger-port)