diff --git a/gnucash/gnome-utils/test/test-tree-container.cpp b/gnucash/gnome-utils/test/test-tree-container.cpp
index 72b643ce6a0..9d70bc8db37 100644
--- a/gnucash/gnome-utils/test/test-tree-container.cpp
+++ b/gnucash/gnome-utils/test/test-tree-container.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ enum {
 };
 
 TEST(GncTreeContainer, Basic) {
-    gtk_init (nullptr, nullptr);
+    if (!gtk_init_check (nullptr, nullptr))
+        std::cout << "no display present!" << std::endl;
+
     std::cout << "Init successful" << '\n';
 
     auto store = gtk_list_store_new (N_COLUMNS, G_TYPE_STRING, G_TYPE_INT, G_TYPE_BOOLEAN);