diff --git a/pytest_pyvista/pytest_pyvista.py b/pytest_pyvista/pytest_pyvista.py
index 9b71bf66..eb1af2f6 100644
--- a/pytest_pyvista/pytest_pyvista.py
+++ b/pytest_pyvista/pytest_pyvista.py
@@ -491,7 +491,15 @@ def func_show(*args, **kwargs) -> None:  # noqa: ANN002, ANN003
         if user_callback is None:  # special case encountered when using the `plot` property of pyvista objects
             user_callback = lambda *a: ...  # noqa: ARG005, E731
 
-        kwargs[key] = _ChainedCallbacks(user_callback, verify_image_cache)
+        # Set kwargs to None in order to get the callback from the
+        # global theme one which is patched by the current callback.
+        # This is done to make sure that the weak ref `_before_close_callback` is not dead
+        # when using `auto_close=False` on the plotter
+        # See https://github.com/pyvista/pytest-pyvista/issues/172
+        callback = _ChainedCallbacks(user_callback, verify_image_cache)
+        kwargs[key] = None
+
+        monkeypatch.setattr(pyvista.global_theme, "before_close_callback", callback)
 
         return old_show(*args, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/tests/test_pyvista.py b/tests/test_pyvista.py
index 63070c85..1e31e08d 100644
--- a/tests/test_pyvista.py
+++ b/tests/test_pyvista.py
@@ -855,3 +855,29 @@ def test_imcache(verify_image_cache, tmp_path: Path, pytestconfig: pytest.Config
     args = ["--image_cache_dir", new_dir, "--failed_image_dir", "failed"]
     result = pytester.runpytest(*args)
     result.assert_outcomes(passed=1)
+
+
+def test_auto_close(pytester: pytest.Pytester) -> None:
+    """Test when using auto_close=False."""
+    pytester.makepyfile(
+        """
+        import pyvista as pv
+        pv.OFF_SCREEN = True
+        def test_auto_close(verify_image_cache):
+            verify_image_cache.skip = True
+            pl = pv.Plotter()
+            pl.show(auto_close=False)
+            assert pl._before_close_callback is not None
+            pl.close()
+
+        def test_auto_close_2(verify_image_cache, mocker):
+            verify_image_cache.skip = True
+            plotter = pv.Plotter()
+            plotter.show(auto_close=False, before_close_callback=(m:=mocker.MagicMock()))
+            plotter.close()
+            m.assert_called_once_with(plotter)
+        """
+    )
+
+    result = pytester.runpytest()
+    result.assert_outcomes(passed=2)