diff --git a/src/gui/mainwindow.cpp b/src/gui/mainwindow.cpp
index 296dc5a..45b6993 100644
--- a/src/gui/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -116,6 +116,15 @@ void MainWindow::setupObjectNames()
     m_ScanProgressDialog->setObjectName(QStringLiteral("m_ScanProgressDialog"));
 }
 
+void MainWindow::setDisallowOtherDevices()
+{
+    // because of how Qt works, the user still can enable the
+    // dock widget via a mouse click, so we need to also set it to disabled.
+    // so that the user doesn't select it by mistake.
+    m_DockDevices->setVisible(false);
+    m_DockDevices->setEnabled(false);
+}
+
 void MainWindow::init()
 {
     treeLog().init();
diff --git a/src/gui/mainwindow.h b/src/gui/mainwindow.h
index 960a4fb..fea5189 100644
--- a/src/gui/mainwindow.h
+++ b/src/gui/mainwindow.h
@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@ public:
 
     void setCurrentPartitionByName(const QString& partitionNumber);
 
+    // forbids the user to select another device.
+    // this is used in conjunction with --device
+    // rationale is that if the user specifies a device,
+    // we can't allow him to select another one by mistake while
+    // clicking in the UI.
+    void setDisallowOtherDevices();
+
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void settingsChanged();
     void scanFinished();
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index f733cef..c984096 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ int Q_DECL_IMPORT main(int argc, char* argv[])
             if (partitionNr.length()) {
                 mainWindow->setCurrentPartitionByName(selectedDevice);
             }
+            mainWindow->setDisallowOtherDevices();
         }
     });