diff --git a/qt/aqt/import_export/exporting.py b/qt/aqt/import_export/exporting.py
index 29f674b65..26c63afc8 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/import_export/exporting.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/import_export/exporting.py
@@ -227,9 +227,9 @@ class ApkgExporter(Exporter):
         ).with_backend_progress(export_progress_update).run_in_background()
 
 
-def export_progress_update(progress: Progress) -> ProgressUpdate | None:
+def export_progress_update(progress: Progress, update: ProgressUpdate) -> None:
     if not progress.HasField("exporting"):
         return None
-    return ProgressUpdate(
-        label=tr.exporting_exported_media_file(count=progress.exporting)
-    )
+    update.label = tr.exporting_exported_media_file(count=progress.exporting)
+    if update.user_wants_abort:
+        update.abort = True
diff --git a/qt/aqt/import_export/importing.py b/qt/aqt/import_export/importing.py
index 4ac351acb..c7d2942b5 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/import_export/importing.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/import_export/importing.py
@@ -143,7 +143,9 @@ def stringify_log(log: Any) -> str:
     )
 
 
-def import_progress_update(progress: Progress) -> ProgressUpdate | None:
-    if progress.HasField("importing"):
-        return ProgressUpdate(label=progress.importing)
-    return None
+def import_progress_update(progress: Progress, update: ProgressUpdate) -> None:
+    if not progress.HasField("importing"):
+        return
+    update.label = progress.importing
+    if update.user_wants_abort:
+        update.abort = True
diff --git a/qt/aqt/operations/__init__.py b/qt/aqt/operations/__init__.py
index abf921531..761c6e7ab 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/operations/__init__.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/operations/__init__.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class CollectionOp(Generic[ResultWithChanges]):
 
     _success: Callable[[ResultWithChanges], Any] | None = None
     _failure: Callable[[Exception], Any] | None = None
-    _progress_update: Callable[[Progress], ProgressUpdate | None] | None = None
+    _progress_update: Callable[[Progress, ProgressUpdate], None] | None = None
 
     def __init__(self, parent: QWidget, op: Callable[[Collection], ResultWithChanges]):
         self._parent = parent
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class CollectionOp(Generic[ResultWithChanges]):
         return self
 
     def with_backend_progress(
-        self, progress_update: Callable[[Progress], ProgressUpdate | None] | None
+        self, progress_update: Callable[[Progress, ProgressUpdate], None] | None
     ) -> CollectionOp[ResultWithChanges]:
         self._progress_update = progress_update
         return self
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class QueryOp(Generic[T]):
 
     _failure: Callable[[Exception], Any] | None = None
     _progress: bool | str = False
-    _progress_update: Callable[[Progress], ProgressUpdate | None] | None = None
+    _progress_update: Callable[[Progress, ProgressUpdate], None] | None = None
 
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ class QueryOp(Generic[T]):
         return self
 
     def with_backend_progress(
-        self, progress_update: Callable[[Progress], ProgressUpdate | None] | None
+        self, progress_update: Callable[[Progress, ProgressUpdate], None] | None
     ) -> QueryOp[T]:
         self._progress_update = progress_update
         return self
diff --git a/qt/aqt/progress.py b/qt/aqt/progress.py
index 70f6db58a..3a1b355a9 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/progress.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/progress.py
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class ProgressManager:
 
     def start_with_backend_updates(
         self,
-        progress_update: Callable[[Progress], ProgressUpdate | None],
+        progress_update: Callable[[Progress, ProgressUpdate], None],
         start_label: str | None = None,
         parent: QWidget | None = None,
     ) -> None:
@@ -185,12 +185,14 @@ class ProgressManager:
         def on_progress() -> None:
             assert self.mw
 
+            user_wants_abort = dialog and dialog.wantCancel or False
+            update = ProgressUpdate(user_wants_abort=user_wants_abort)
             progress = self.mw.backend.latest_progress()
-            if not (update := progress_update(progress)):
-                return
-            if dialog and dialog.wantCancel:
+            progress_update(progress, update)
+            if update.abort:
                 self.mw.backend.set_wants_abort()
-            self.update(label=update.label, value=update.value, max=update.max)
+            if update.has_update():
+                self.update(label=update.label, value=update.value, max=update.max)
 
         qconnect(self._backend_timer.timeout, on_progress)
         self._backend_timer.start()
@@ -334,3 +336,8 @@ class ProgressUpdate:
     label: str | None = None
     value: int | None = None
     max: int | None = None
+    user_wants_abort: bool = False
+    abort: bool = False
+
+    def has_update(self) -> bool:
+        return self.label is not None or self.value is not None or self.max is not None
diff --git a/qt/aqt/taskman.py b/qt/aqt/taskman.py
index 13d984100..283153ee1 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/taskman.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/taskman.py
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class TaskManager(QObject):
     def with_backend_progress(
         self,
         task: Callable,
-        progress_update: Callable[[Progress], ProgressUpdate | None],
+        progress_update: Callable[[Progress, ProgressUpdate], None],
         on_done: Callable[[Future], None] | None = None,
         parent: QWidget | None = None,
         start_label: str | None = None,