diff --git a/qt/logviewdialog.py b/qt/logviewdialog.py
index dd6b7949b..62c162f4f 100644
--- a/qt/logviewdialog.py
+++ b/qt/logviewdialog.py
@@ -35,15 +35,16 @@ class LogViewDialog(QDialog):  # pylint: disable=too-many-instance-attributes
     """A log file viewer dialog"""
 
     def __init__(self,
-                 parent: QWidget,
-                 sid: snapshots.SID = None):
+                 parent: QWidget | qtsystrayicon.QtSysTrayIcon = None,
+                 sid: snapshots.SID = None,
+                 decode: bool = False):
         """
         Args:
             parent: Parent widget.
             sid: Backup ID whose log file shall be shown. If ``None`` the last
                 log is shown.
         """
-        super().__init__(parent)
+        super().__init__(parent if isinstance(parent, QWidget) else None)
 
         self.config = parent.config
         # self.snapshots = parent.snapshots
@@ -101,6 +102,7 @@ def __init__(self,
         # decode path
         self._checkbox_decode = QCheckBox(_('decode paths'), self)
         self._checkbox_decode.stateChanged.connect(self._slot_decode_changed)
+        self._checkbox_decode.setChecked(decode)
         main_layout.addWidget(self._checkbox_decode)
 
         btn_box = QDialogButtonBox(QDialogButtonBox.StandardButton.Close)
diff --git a/qt/qtsystrayicon.py b/qt/qtsystrayicon.py
index 244819d4c..aea87b30d 100644
--- a/qt/qtsystrayicon.py
+++ b/qt/qtsystrayicon.py
@@ -96,6 +96,13 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.btnStop.triggered.connect(self.onBtnStop)
         self.contextMenu.addSeparator()
 
+        # Dev note (2025-12, buhtz): I wondered why this decode checkbox is
+        # visible only in ssh_encfs mode but not in local_encfs. Still not
+        # sure but I think the reason is that in ssh_encfs there is no
+        # "double-mounting": First SSH and then EncFS. In consequence this
+        # decode button is a workaround. Explicit decoding in local_encfs
+        # is not necessary because this happens via encfs-mounting. This
+        # step is missing when using ssh_encfs.
         self.btnDecode = self.contextMenu.addAction(
             icon.VIEW_SNAPSHOT_LOG, _('decode paths'))
         self.btnDecode.setCheckable(True)
@@ -171,20 +178,22 @@ def prepareExit(self):
         self.qapp.processEvents()
 
     def run(self):
-        if not self.snapshots.busy():
-            sys.exit()
+        if '--keep-alive' not in sys.argv:
+            if not self.snapshots.busy():
+                sys.exit()
+
         self.status_icon.show()
         self.timer.start(500)
         self.qapp.exec()
         self.prepareExit()
 
     def updateInfo(self):
-
         # Exit this systray icon "app" when the snapshots is taken
-        if not self.snapshots.busy():
-            self.prepareExit()
-            self.qapp.exit(0)
-            return
+        if '--keep-alive' not in sys.argv:
+            if not self.snapshots.busy():
+                self.prepareExit()
+                self.qapp.exit(0)
+                return
 
         paused = tools.processPaused(self.snapshots.pid())
         self.btnPause.setVisible(not paused)
@@ -255,9 +264,9 @@ def onStartBIT(self):
         _proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd)
 
     def onOpenLog(self):
-        dlg = logviewdialog.LogViewDialog(self, systray = True)
-        dlg.decode = self.decode
-        dlg.cbDecode.setChecked(self.btnDecode.isChecked())
+        dlg = logviewdialog.LogViewDialog(
+            parent=self,
+            decode=self.btnDecode.isChecked())
         dlg.exec()
 
     def onBtnDecode(self, checked):
@@ -265,8 +274,9 @@ def onBtnDecode(self, checked):
             self.decode = encfstools.Decode(self.config)
             self.last_message = None
             self.updateInfo()
-        else:
-            self.decode = None
+            return
+
+        self.decode = None
 
     def onBtnStop(self):
         os.kill(self.snapshots.pid(), signal.SIGKILL)
@@ -292,6 +302,8 @@ def get_light_icon() -> QIcon:
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
+    # Use '--keep-alive' to keep the systray icon alive. This is for debug
+    # purpose only.
 
     logger.openlog('SYSTRAY')