--- src/key.c
+++ src/key.c
@@ -247,8 +247,17 @@ define_sequences (key_define_t *kd)
 }
 
 #ifdef HAVE_TEXTMODE_X11_SUPPORT
+#include <setjmp.h>
+
 static Display *x11_display;
 static Window x11_window;
+
+static jmp_buf jmp_no_x;
+
+int x11_IOError(Display *d)
+{
+    longjmp(jmp_no_x, 1);
+}
 #endif /* HAVE_TEXTMODE_X11_SUPPORT */
 
 /* This has to be called before slang_init or whatever routine
@@ -290,9 +299,19 @@ void init_key (void)
 #endif /* __QNX__ */
 
 #ifdef HAVE_TEXTMODE_X11_SUPPORT
-    x11_display = XOpenDisplay (0);
-    if (x11_display)
+    XSetIOErrorHandler(x11_IOError);
+    if (setjmp(jmp_no_x)) {
+	x11_display = NULL;
+	fprintf (stderr, "Error: X connection broken\n");
+    }
+    else {
+	x11_display = XOpenDisplay (0);
+    }
+
+    if (x11_display) {
+	XSetIOErrorHandler(NULL);
         x11_window = DefaultRootWindow (x11_display);
+    }
 #endif /* HAVE_TEXTMODE_X11_SUPPORT */
 }