diff --git a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
--- a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_backend.cpp
@@ -237,6 +237,11 @@
     );
     m_drmId = device->sysNum();
     queryResources();
+    if (m_outputs.isEmpty()) {
+        qCWarning(KWIN_DRM) << "No outputs, cannot render, will terminate now";
+        emit initFailed();
+        return;
+    }
 
     // setup udevMonitor
     if (m_udevMonitor) {
@@ -315,7 +320,11 @@
             drmOutput->m_mode = connector->modes[0];
         }
         drmOutput->m_connector = connector->connector_id;
-        drmOutput->init(connector.data());
+        if (!drmOutput->init(connector.data())) {
+            qCWarning(KWIN_DRM) << "Failed to create output for connector " << connector->connector_id;
+            delete drmOutput;
+            continue;
+        }
         qCDebug(KWIN_DRM) << "Found new output with uuid" << drmOutput->uuid();
         connectedOutputs << drmOutput;
     }
@@ -339,7 +348,9 @@
     }
     m_outputs = connectedOutputs;
     readOutputsConfiguration();
-    emit screensQueried();
+    if (!m_outputs.isEmpty()) {
+        emit screensQueried();
+    }
 }
 
 void DrmBackend::readOutputsConfiguration()
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.h b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.h
--- a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.h
+++ b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.h
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@
     void moveCursor(const QPoint &globalPos);
     bool present(DrmBuffer *buffer);
     void pageFlipped();
-    void init(drmModeConnector *connector);
+    bool init(drmModeConnector *connector);
     void restoreSaved();
-    void blank();
+    bool blank();
 
     /**
      * This sets the changes and tests them against the DRM output
diff --git a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.cpp b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.cpp
--- a/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.cpp
+++ b/plugins/platforms/drm/drm_output.cpp
@@ -180,13 +180,15 @@
     }
 }
 
-void DrmOutput::init(drmModeConnector *connector)
+bool DrmOutput::init(drmModeConnector *connector)
 {
     initEdid(connector);
     initDpms(connector);
     initUuid();
     m_savedCrtc.reset(drmModeGetCrtc(m_backend->fd(), m_crtcId));
-    blank();
+    if (!blank()) {
+        return false;
+    }
     setDpms(DpmsMode::On);
     if (!m_waylandOutput.isNull()) {
         delete m_waylandOutput.data();
@@ -287,6 +289,7 @@
     m_waylandOutput->create();
     qCDebug(KWIN_DRM) << "Created OutputDevice";
     m_waylandOutputDevice->create();
+    return true;
 }
 
 void DrmOutput::initUuid()
@@ -318,14 +321,17 @@
         && qstrcmp(mode->name, m_mode.name) == 0;
 }
 
-void DrmOutput::blank()
+bool DrmOutput::blank()
 {
     if (!m_blackBuffer) {
         m_blackBuffer = m_backend->createBuffer(size());
-        m_blackBuffer->map();
+        if (!m_blackBuffer->map()) {
+            cleanupBlackBuffer();
+            return false;
+        }
         m_blackBuffer->image()->fill(Qt::black);
     }
-    setMode(m_blackBuffer);
+    return setMode(m_blackBuffer);
 }
 
 bool DrmOutput::setMode(DrmBuffer *buffer)