diff --git a/src/graphics/material_manager.cpp b/src/graphics/material_manager.cpp
index 274901a96..8842938ea 100644
--- a/src/graphics/material_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/material_manager.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "graphics/shaders.hpp"
 #include "io/file_manager.hpp"
 #include "io/xml_node.hpp"
+#include "modes/profile_world.hpp"
 #include "modes/world.hpp"
 #include "tracks/track.hpp"
 #include "utils/string_utils.hpp"
@@ -127,11 +128,16 @@ Material* MaterialManager::getDefaultMaterial(video::E_MATERIAL_TYPE shader_type
 
         // TODO: workaround, should not hardcode these material types here?
         // Try to find a cleaner way
-        if (shader_type == Shaders::getShader(ShaderType::ES_OBJECT_UNLIT))
+        // If graphics are disabled, shaders should not be accessed (getShader
+        // asserts that shaders are initialised).
+        if(!ProfileWorld::isNoGraphics() &&
+            shader_type == Shaders::getShader(ShaderType::ES_OBJECT_UNLIT))
             default_material->setShaderType(Material::SHADERTYPE_SOLID_UNLIT);
-        else if (shader_type == Shaders::getShader(ShaderType::ES_OBJECTPASS_REF))
+        else if (!ProfileWorld::isNoGraphics() &&
+                 shader_type == Shaders::getShader(ShaderType::ES_OBJECTPASS_REF))
             default_material->setShaderType(Material::SHADERTYPE_ALPHA_TEST);
-        //else if (shader_type == Shaders::getShader(ShaderType::ES_OBJECTPASS))
+        //else if (!ProfileWorld::isNoGraphics() &&
+        //         shader_type == Shaders::getShader(ShaderType::ES_OBJECTPASS))
         //    default_material->setShaderType(Material::SHADERTYPE_ALPHA_BLEND);
         else
             default_material->setShaderType(Material::SHADERTYPE_SOLID);