Debian / Gnome - hide buddy list on close but keep running

[mark]

Hi,

Previously, I was running Pidgin under Debian Jessie with Gnome. I would open up a chat window with someone and then when I closed the main Pidgin Buddy List window, the chat window I opened (and Pidgin) would stay running.

Now I am using Debian Stretch and Gnome 3.26. When I close the main Pidgin Buddy List window, it terminates Pidgin.

Is there a setting I am missing to hide the Buddy List window on close?

Thanks much!

Mark