diff --git a/src/plugins/renderers/drm/plugin.c b/src/plugins/renderers/drm/plugin.c
index f4e3dded..6d4ce9b1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/renderers/drm/plugin.c
+++ b/src/plugins/renderers/drm/plugin.c
@@ -502,6 +502,13 @@ open_device (ply_renderer_backend_t *backend)
       return false;
     }
 
+  if (!ply_terminal_is_vt (backend->terminal))
+    {
+      ply_trace ("terminal is not a VT");
+      ply_terminal_close (backend->terminal);
+      return false;
+    }
+
   ply_terminal_watch_for_active_vt_change (backend->terminal,
                                            (ply_terminal_active_vt_changed_handler_t)
                                            on_active_vt_changed,