diff --git a/src/windows.c b/src/windows.c
index f0276a6e..94698667 100644
--- a/src/windows.c
+++ b/src/windows.c
@@ -203,11 +203,16 @@ ui_get_idle_time(void)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBXSS
     XScreenSaverInfo *info = XScreenSaverAllocInfo();
-    XScreenSaverQueryInfo(display, DefaultRootWindow(display), info);
-    unsigned long result = info->idle;
-    XFree(info);
-
-    return result;
+    if (info != NULL && display != NULL) {
+        XScreenSaverQueryInfo(display, DefaultRootWindow(display), info);
+        unsigned long result = info->idle;
+        XFree(info);
+        return result;
+    } else {
+        gdouble seconds_elapsed = g_timer_elapsed(ui_idle_time, NULL);
+        unsigned long ms_elapsed = seconds_elapsed * 1000.0;
+        return ms_elapsed;
+    }
 #else
     gdouble seconds_elapsed = g_timer_elapsed(ui_idle_time, NULL);
     unsigned long ms_elapsed = seconds_elapsed * 1000.0;