diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 2894ddef..13112c9f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ AC_ARG_WITH([xscreensaver],
     [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-xscreensaver], [use libXScrnSaver to determine idle time])])
 AC_ARG_WITH([themes],
     [AS_HELP_STRING([--with-themes[[=PATH]]], [install themes (default yes)])])
+AC_ARG_ENABLE([icons],
+    [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-icons], [enable icons])])
 
 ### plugins
 
@@ -153,8 +155,11 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES([curl], [libcurl], [],
     [AC_MSG_ERROR([libcurl is required for profanity])])
 
 # Checks GTK+ 2.0
-PKG_CHECK_MODULES([GTK], [gtk+-2.0 >= 2.24.10], [],
-    [AC_MSG_ERROR([gtk+-2.0 or higher is required for profanity])])
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES([GTK], [gtk+-2.0 >= 2.24.10],
+                  [AC_DEFINE([HAVE_GTK], [1], [libgtk module])],
+                  [AS_IF([test "x$enable_icons" = xyes],
+                         [AC_MSG_ERROR([gtk+-2.0 or higher is required for icons])],
+                         [AC_MSG_NOTICE([gtk+-2.0 not found, icons not enabled])])])
 
 AS_IF([test "x$PLATFORM" != xosx],
     [AC_CHECK_LIB([readline], [main], [],
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index f080e063..242bf127 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -34,7 +34,9 @@
 
 #include "prof_config.h"
 
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
 #include <gtk/gtk.h>
+#endif
 #include <string.h>
 #include <glib.h>
 #include <assert.h>
@@ -50,7 +52,6 @@
 static gboolean version = FALSE;
 static char *log = "INFO";
 static char *account_name = NULL;
-static gboolean use_gtk = FALSE;
 
 int
 main(int argc, char **argv)
@@ -139,14 +140,21 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
         g_print("Python plugins: Disabled\n");
 #endif
 
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
+        g_print("GTK icons: Enabled\n");
+#else
+        g_print("GTK icons: Disabled\n");
+#endif
+
         return 0;
     }
 
-    use_gtk = gtk_init_check(&argc, &argv);
-    if (use_gtk) {
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
+    if (gtk_init_check(&argc, &argv)) {
         gtk_init(&argc, &argv);
     }
-    prof_run(log, account_name, use_gtk);
+#endif
+    prof_run(log, account_name);
 
     return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/profanity.c b/src/profanity.c
index 50f564c7..d6c39f06 100644
--- a/src/profanity.c
+++ b/src/profanity.c
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@
 #include "gitversion.h"
 #endif
 
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
 #include <gtk/gtk.h>
+#endif
 #include <locale.h>
 #include <signal.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -73,7 +75,9 @@
 #include "window_list.h"
 #include "event/client_events.h"
 #include "config/tlscerts.h"
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
 #include "tray.h"
+#endif
 
 static void _check_autoaway(void);
 static void _init(char *log_level);
@@ -94,17 +98,15 @@ char *saved_status;
 
 static gboolean cont = TRUE;
 static gboolean force_quit = FALSE;
-static gboolean gtk_enabled = FALSE;
 
 void
-prof_run(char *log_level, char *account_name, gboolean use_gtk)
+prof_run(char *log_level, char *account_name)
 {
-    gtk_enabled = use_gtk;
     _init(log_level);
     plugins_on_start();
-    if (gtk_enabled) {
-        gtk_main_iteration_do(false);
-    }
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
+    gtk_main_iteration_do(false);
+#endif
     _connect_default(account_name);
 
     ui_update();
@@ -137,9 +139,9 @@ prof_run(char *log_level, char *account_name, gboolean use_gtk)
         jabber_process_events(10);
         iq_autoping_check();
         ui_update();
-        if (gtk_enabled) {
-            gtk_main_iteration_do(false);
-        }
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
+        gtk_main_iteration_do(false);
+#endif
     }
 }
 
@@ -362,9 +364,9 @@ _init(char *log_level)
 #endif
     atexit(_shutdown);
     plugins_init();
-    if (gtk_enabled) {
-        create_tray();
-    }
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
+    create_tray();
+#endif
     inp_nonblocking(TRUE);
 }
 
@@ -383,9 +385,9 @@ _shutdown(void)
     if (conn_status == JABBER_CONNECTED) {
         cl_ev_disconnect();
     }
-    if (gtk_enabled) {
-        destroy_tray();
-    }
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
+    destroy_tray();
+#endif
     jabber_shutdown();
     plugins_on_shutdown();
     muc_close();
diff --git a/src/profanity.h b/src/profanity.h
index b32bbf17..7e128dc8 100644
--- a/src/profanity.h
+++ b/src/profanity.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 #include "resource.h"
 #include "xmpp/xmpp.h"
 
-void prof_run(char *log_level, char *account_name, gboolean use_gtk);
+void prof_run(char *log_level, char *account_name);
 
 void prof_handle_idle(void);
 void prof_handle_activity(void);
diff --git a/src/tray.c b/src/tray.c
index e227b68a..8b078adf 100644
--- a/src/tray.c
+++ b/src/tray.c
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * tray.c
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2012 - 2016 David Petroni <petrodavi@gmail.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2012 - 2016 James Booth <boothj5@gmail.com>
  *
  * This file is part of Profanity.
  *
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@
  *
  */
 
+#include "prof_config.h"
+
+#ifdef PROF_HAVE_GTK
 #include <gtk/gtk.h>
 #include <glib.h>
 #include <glib/gstdio.h>
@@ -156,3 +159,4 @@ void destroy_tray(void)
 }
 
 /* }}} */
+#endif
diff --git a/src/tray.h b/src/tray.h
index 6d12329f..416ca7d2 100644
--- a/src/tray.h
+++ b/src/tray.h
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * tray.h
  *
- * Copyright (C) 2012 - 2016 David Petroni <petrodavi@gmail.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2012 - 2016 James Booth <boothj5@gmail.com>
  *
  * This file is part of Profanity.
  *