diff --git a/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py b/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py
index b41f9342..6d25d6aa 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/HandHistoryConverter.py
@@ -50,9 +50,6 @@ import Hand
 from Exceptions import FpdbParseError
 import Configuration
 
-import pygtk
-import gtk
-
 class HandHistoryConverter():
 
     READ_CHUNK_SIZE = 10000 # bytes to read at a time from file in tail mode
@@ -128,9 +125,6 @@ If in follow mode, wait for more data to turn up.
 Otherwise, finish at EOF.
 
 """
-        while gtk.events_pending():
-            gtk.main_iteration(False)
-
         starttime = time.time()
         if not self.sanityCheck():
             log.warning(_("Failed sanity check"))
@@ -182,7 +176,12 @@ Otherwise, finish at EOF.
         finally:
             if self.out_fh != sys.stdout:
                 self.out_fh.close()
-
+                
+    def progressNotify(self):
+        "A callback to the interface while events are pending"
+        import gtk, pygtk
+        while gtk.events_pending():
+            gtk.main_iteration(False)
 
     def tailHands(self):
         """Generator of handTexts from a tailed file:
diff --git a/pyfpdb/fpdb_import.py b/pyfpdb/fpdb_import.py
index 7aab478c..a104d5ce 100644
--- a/pyfpdb/fpdb_import.py
+++ b/pyfpdb/fpdb_import.py
@@ -453,6 +453,7 @@ class Importer:
                       ,sitename     = site )
             
             if hhc.getStatus():
+                if self.caller: hhc.progressNotify()
                 handlist = hhc.getProcessedHands()
                 self.pos_in_file[file] = hhc.getLastCharacterRead()
                 (hbulk, hpbulk, habulk, hcbulk, phands, ihands) = ([], [], [], [], [], [])