diff --git a/src/fe-gtk/theme/tests/test-theme-gtk3-settings.c b/src/fe-gtk/theme/tests/test-theme-gtk3-settings.c
index dec47ac6..b171d521 100644
--- a/src/fe-gtk/theme/tests/test-theme-gtk3-settings.c
+++ b/src/fe-gtk/theme/tests/test-theme-gtk3-settings.c
@@ -199,6 +199,14 @@ get_int_setting (const char *name)
 	return value;
 }
 
+static gboolean
+has_default_seat (void)
+{
+	GdkDisplay *display = gdk_display_get_default ();
+
+	return display && GDK_IS_SEAT (gdk_display_get_default_seat (display));
+}
+
 static void
 setup_themes (void)
 {
@@ -309,10 +317,13 @@ test_settings_restored_on_disable_and_switch (void)
 	g_assert_true (theme_gtk3_apply ("layered", THEME_GTK3_VARIANT_PREFER_LIGHT, &error));
 	g_assert_no_error (error);
 	g_assert_cmpint (get_int_setting ("gtk-cursor-blink-time"), ==, 333);
-	g_object_get (gtk_settings_get_default (), "gtk-theme-name", &active_theme_name, NULL);
-	g_assert_cmpstr (active_theme_name, ==, "child");
-	g_free (active_theme_name);
-	active_theme_name = NULL;
+	if (has_default_seat ())
+	{
+		g_object_get (gtk_settings_get_default (), "gtk-theme-name", &active_theme_name, NULL);
+		g_assert_cmpstr (active_theme_name, ==, "child");
+		g_free (active_theme_name);
+		active_theme_name = NULL;
+	}
 
 	g_assert_true (theme_gtk3_apply ("switch", THEME_GTK3_VARIANT_PREFER_LIGHT, &error));
 	g_assert_no_error (error);
@@ -322,9 +333,12 @@ test_settings_restored_on_disable_and_switch (void)
 	theme_gtk3_disable ();
 	g_assert_cmpint (get_int_setting ("gtk-cursor-blink-time"), ==, default_blink);
 	g_assert_cmpint (get_bool_setting ("gtk-enable-animations"), ==, default_animations);
-	g_object_get (gtk_settings_get_default (), "gtk-theme-name", &active_theme_name, NULL);
-	g_assert_cmpstr (active_theme_name, ==, default_theme_name);
-	g_free (active_theme_name);
+	if (has_default_seat ())
+	{
+		g_object_get (gtk_settings_get_default (), "gtk-theme-name", &active_theme_name, NULL);
+		g_assert_cmpstr (active_theme_name, ==, default_theme_name);
+		g_free (active_theme_name);
+	}
 	g_free (default_theme_name);
 	g_assert_false (theme_gtk3_is_active ());
 }
diff --git a/src/fe-gtk/theme/theme-gtk3.c b/src/fe-gtk/theme/theme-gtk3.c
index 30079e73..4a3f1b1d 100644
--- a/src/fe-gtk/theme/theme-gtk3.c
+++ b/src/fe-gtk/theme/theme-gtk3.c
@@ -135,8 +135,12 @@ settings_defaults_table (void)
 static void
 settings_rescan_icon_theme (void)
 {
+	GdkScreen *screen = gdk_screen_get_default ();
 	GtkIconTheme *icon_theme;
 
+	if (!screen)
+		return;
+
 	icon_theme = gtk_icon_theme_get_default ();
 	if (!icon_theme)
 		return;
@@ -156,8 +160,13 @@ theme_gtk3_reset_widgets (void)
 static void
 settings_capture_icon_search_path (void)
 {
-	GtkIconTheme *icon_theme = gtk_icon_theme_get_default ();
+	GdkScreen *screen = gdk_screen_get_default ();
+	GtkIconTheme *icon_theme;
 
+	if (!screen)
+		return;
+
+	icon_theme = gtk_icon_theme_get_default ();
 	if (!icon_theme || theme_gtk3_settings_state.icon_search_path_captured)
 		return;
 
@@ -168,8 +177,13 @@ settings_capture_icon_search_path (void)
 static void
 settings_append_icon_search_path (const char *path)
 {
-	GtkIconTheme *icon_theme = gtk_icon_theme_get_default ();
+	GdkScreen *screen = gdk_screen_get_default ();
+	GtkIconTheme *icon_theme;
 
+	if (!screen)
+		return;
+
+	icon_theme = gtk_icon_theme_get_default ();
 	if (!icon_theme || !path || !g_file_test (path, G_FILE_TEST_IS_DIR))
 		return;
 
@@ -199,8 +213,13 @@ settings_apply_icon_paths (const char *theme_root)
 static void
 settings_restore_icon_search_path (void)
 {
-	GtkIconTheme *icon_theme = gtk_icon_theme_get_default ();
+	GdkScreen *screen = gdk_screen_get_default ();
+	GtkIconTheme *icon_theme;
 
+	if (!screen)
+		return;
+
+	icon_theme = gtk_icon_theme_get_default ();
 	if (!icon_theme || !theme_gtk3_settings_state.icon_search_path_captured)
 		return;
 
@@ -394,6 +413,14 @@ settings_theme_link_search_path (const char *theme_root, const char *theme_name)
 	return ok;
 }
 
+static gboolean
+settings_default_seat_available (void)
+{
+	GdkDisplay *display = gdk_display_get_default ();
+
+	return display && GDK_IS_SEAT (gdk_display_get_default_seat (display));
+}
+
 static void
 settings_apply_theme_name (const char *theme_root)
 {
@@ -404,7 +431,7 @@ settings_apply_theme_name (const char *theme_root)
 		return;
 
 	settings = gtk_settings_get_default ();
-	if (!settings)
+	if (!settings || !settings_default_seat_available ())
 		return;
 
 	theme_name = g_path_get_basename (theme_root);