diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 81584a5e..9c450c0c 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -2241,6 +2241,11 @@ initialize_environment (state_t *state)
   if (!get_kernel_command_line (state))
     return false;
 
+  if (!state->default_tty)
+    {
+      if (getenv ("DISPLAY") != NULL && access (PLYMOUTH_PLUGIN_PATH "renderers/x11.so", F_OK) == 0)
+          state->default_tty = "/dev/tty";
+    }
   if (!state->default_tty)
     {
       if (state->mode == PLY_MODE_SHUTDOWN)