diff --git a/lib/python/qtvcp/widgets/basic_probe.py b/lib/python/qtvcp/widgets/basic_probe.py
index d50e14aee31..8c6a2ecfcf0 100644
--- a/lib/python/qtvcp/widgets/basic_probe.py
+++ b/lib/python/qtvcp/widgets/basic_probe.py
@@ -609,10 +609,10 @@ def buildWidget(self):
         l.addWidget(bBox)
         self.setLayout(l)
 
-        try:
-            self.next(t)
-        except Exception as e:
-                t.setText('Basic Probe Help file Unavailable:\n\n{}'.format(e))
+        # Load the first help page lazily (on first show): pre-scaling its
+        # images at construction can hang or crash qtvcp headless.
+        self._helpText = t
+        self._helpLoaded = False
 
     def _set_scaled_html(self, t, html):
         # QTextEdit scales raster images with a nearest-neighbour filter, which
@@ -686,6 +686,12 @@ def close(self):
         super(HelpDialog, self).close()
 
     def showDialog(self):
+        if not self._helpLoaded:
+            try:
+                self.next(self._helpText)
+            except Exception as e:
+                self._helpText.setText('Basic Probe Help file Unavailable:\n\n{}'.format(e))
+            self._helpLoaded = True
         self.setWindowTitle(self._title);
         self.set_geometry()
         retval = self.exec()
diff --git a/lib/python/qtvcp/widgets/versa_probe.py b/lib/python/qtvcp/widgets/versa_probe.py
index c0f4ca0fb35..2b542585677 100644
--- a/lib/python/qtvcp/widgets/versa_probe.py
+++ b/lib/python/qtvcp/widgets/versa_probe.py
@@ -683,10 +683,10 @@ def buildWidget(self):
         l.addWidget(bBox)
         self.setLayout(l)
 
-        try:
-            self.next(t)
-        except Exception as e:
-                t.setText('Versa Probe Help file Unavailable:\n\n{}'.format(e))
+        # Load the first help page lazily (on first show): pre-scaling its
+        # images at construction can hang or crash qtvcp headless.
+        self._helpText = t
+        self._helpLoaded = False
 
     def _set_scaled_html(self, t, html):
         # QTextEdit scales raster images with a nearest-neighbour filter, which
@@ -757,6 +757,12 @@ def close(self):
         super(HelpDialog, self).close()
 
     def showDialog(self):
+        if not self._helpLoaded:
+            try:
+                self.next(self._helpText)
+            except Exception as e:
+                self._helpText.setText('Versa Probe Help file Unavailable:\n\n{}'.format(e))
+            self._helpLoaded = True
         self.setWindowTitle(self._title);
         self.set_geometry()
         retval = self.exec()