A method maintains a hierarchy of application objects in a computer system. The method includes automatically detecting an exit of a child application object, the exit resulting from a failed process, the child application object launched by a parent application object. A grandchild application object is automatically terminated after the exit of the child application object, the grandchild application object launched by the child application object. Notwithstanding the exit of the child application object, the computer system, which maintains the hierarchy of application objects, the parent application object, and the grandchild application object, remains active.