diff --git a/mixer/src/JACK_Module.C b/mixer/src/JACK_Module.C
index 59561a9..756fd67 100644
--- a/mixer/src/JACK_Module.C
+++ b/mixer/src/JACK_Module.C
@@ -292,6 +292,13 @@ get_connections_for_ports ( std::vector<Module::Port> ports )
 void
 JACK_Module::update_connection_status ( void )
 {
+    /* do nothing when running in noui mode, as ->add will call some
+     * font measurement stuff which attempts to open the X display. */
+    if ( ! fl_display )
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+
     std::list<std::string> output_names = get_connections_for_ports( aux_audio_output );
     std::list<std::string> input_names = get_connections_for_ports( aux_audio_input );
 
diff --git a/mixer/src/Spatialization_Console.C b/mixer/src/Spatialization_Console.C
index 8c13a17..e82527a 100644
--- a/mixer/src/Spatialization_Console.C
+++ b/mixer/src/Spatialization_Console.C
@@ -45,11 +45,14 @@ Spatialization_Console::Spatialization_Console ( void ) : Fl_Double_Window( 850,
   
     label( "Spatialization Console" );
 
-    fl_font( FL_HELVETICA, 14 );
+    labelfont( FL_HELVETICA );
+    labelsize( 14 );
 
     int padding = 48;
     int S = 802;
     
+    if ( fl_display )
+        /* don't open the display in noui mode... */
     {
         int sx, sy, sw, sh;
         
@@ -108,7 +111,12 @@ Spatialization_Console::set ( Log_Entry &e )
         else if ( ! ( strcmp( s, ":shown" ) ) )
         {
             if ( atoi( v ) )
+            {
+                if ( fl_display )
+                {
                 show();
+                }
+            }
             else
                 hide();
         }
diff --git a/mixer/src/main.C b/mixer/src/main.C
index 902e112..5471ca6 100644
--- a/mixer/src/main.C
+++ b/mixer/src/main.C
@@ -131,6 +131,8 @@ main ( int argc, char **argv )
 {
     bool no_ui = false;
 
+    fl_display = 0;
+
     printf( "%s %s %s -- %s\n", APP_TITLE, VERSION, "", COPYRIGHT );
 
     Thread::init();