diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -555,6 +555,7 @@
     //   IMPORTANT if it is no longer a typedef use the normal variant above
     qRegisterMetaType<Amount>("Amount");
     qRegisterMetaType<std::function<void()>>("std::function<void()>");
+    qRegisterMetaType<QMessageBox::Icon>("QMessageBox::Icon");
 
     // Need to register any types Qt doesn't know about if you intend
     // to use them with the signal/slot mechanism Qt provides. Even pointers.
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
@@ -453,8 +453,13 @@
                                    : QString::fromStdString(path);
                 QAction *action = m_open_wallet_action->menu()->addAction(name);
                 connect(action, &QAction::triggered, [this, path] {
-                    setCurrentWallet(m_wallet_controller->openWallet(
-                        config->GetChainParams(), path));
+                    OpenWalletActivity *activity =
+                        m_wallet_controller->openWallet(
+                            config->GetChainParams(), path);
+                    connect(activity, &OpenWalletActivity::opened, this,
+                            &BitcoinGUI::setCurrentWallet);
+                    connect(activity, &OpenWalletActivity::finished, activity,
+                            &QObject::deleteLater);
                 });
             }
         });
diff --git a/src/qt/walletcontroller.h b/src/qt/walletcontroller.h
--- a/src/qt/walletcontroller.h
+++ b/src/qt/walletcontroller.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include <QMessageBox>
 #include <QThread>
 
 class OptionsModel;
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@
 class Node;
 } // namespace interfaces
 
+class OpenWalletActivity;
+
 /**
  * Controller between interfaces::Node, WalletModel instances and the GUI.
  */
@@ -42,8 +45,9 @@
     std::vector<WalletModel *> getWallets() const;
     std::vector<std::string> getWalletsAvailableToOpen() const;
 
-    WalletModel *openWallet(const CChainParams &params, const std::string &name,
-                            QWidget *parent = nullptr);
+    OpenWalletActivity *openWallet(const CChainParams &params,
+                                   const std::string &name,
+                                   QWidget *parent = nullptr);
 
 private Q_SLOTS:
     void addWallet(WalletModel *wallet_model);
@@ -63,6 +67,29 @@
     mutable QMutex m_mutex;
     std::vector<WalletModel *> m_wallets;
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_load_wallet;
+
+    friend class OpenWalletActivity;
+};
+
+class OpenWalletActivity : public QObject {
+    Q_OBJECT
+
+public:
+    OpenWalletActivity(WalletController *wallet_controller,
+                       const std::string &name, const CChainParams &params);
+
+public Q_SLOTS:
+    void open();
+
+Q_SIGNALS:
+    void message(QMessageBox::Icon icon, const QString text);
+    void finished();
+    void opened(WalletModel *wallet_model);
+
+private:
+    WalletController *const m_wallet_controller;
+    std::string const m_name;
+    const CChainParams &m_chain_params;
 };
 
 #endif // BITCOIN_QT_WALLETCONTROLLER_H
diff --git a/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp b/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp
--- a/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/walletcontroller.cpp
@@ -57,21 +57,13 @@
     return wallets;
 }
 
-WalletModel *WalletController::openWallet(const CChainParams &params,
-                                          const std::string &name,
-                                          QWidget *parent) {
-    std::string error, warning;
-    WalletModel *wallet_model =
-        getOrCreateWallet(m_node.loadWallet(params, name, error, warning));
-    if (wallet_model == nullptr) {
-        QMessageBox::warning(parent, tr("Open Wallet"),
-                             QString::fromStdString(error));
-    }
-    if (!warning.empty()) {
-        QMessageBox::information(parent, tr("Open Wallet"),
-                                 QString::fromStdString(warning));
-    }
-    return wallet_model;
+OpenWalletActivity *WalletController::openWallet(const CChainParams &params,
+                                                 const std::string &name,
+                                                 QWidget *parent) {
+    OpenWalletActivity *activity = new OpenWalletActivity(this, name, params);
+    activity->moveToThread(&m_activity_thread);
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(activity, "open", Qt::QueuedConnection);
+    return activity;
 }
 WalletModel *WalletController::getOrCreateWallet(
     std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Wallet> wallet) {
@@ -145,3 +137,26 @@
     // CWallet shared pointer.
     delete wallet_model;
 }
+
+OpenWalletActivity::OpenWalletActivity(WalletController *wallet_controller,
+                                       const std::string &name,
+                                       const CChainParams &params)
+    : m_wallet_controller(wallet_controller), m_name(name),
+      m_chain_params(params) {}
+
+void OpenWalletActivity::open() {
+    std::string error, warning;
+    std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Wallet> wallet =
+        m_wallet_controller->m_node.loadWallet(m_chain_params, m_name, error,
+                                               warning);
+    if (!warning.empty()) {
+        Q_EMIT message(QMessageBox::Warning, QString::fromStdString(warning));
+    }
+    if (wallet) {
+        Q_EMIT opened(
+            m_wallet_controller->getOrCreateWallet(std::move(wallet)));
+    } else {
+        Q_EMIT message(QMessageBox::Critical, QString::fromStdString(error));
+    }
+    Q_EMIT finished();
+}