diff --git a/abstractlocker.cpp b/abstractlocker.cpp
--- a/abstractlocker.cpp
+++ b/abstractlocker.cpp
@@ -81,16 +81,21 @@
 
 AbstractLocker::AbstractLocker(QObject *parent)
     : QObject(parent)
-    , m_background(new BackgroundWindow(this))
 {
+    if (qobject_cast<QGuiApplication*>(QCoreApplication::instance())) {
+        m_background.reset(new BackgroundWindow(this));
+    }
 }
 
 AbstractLocker::~AbstractLocker()
 {
 }
 
 void AbstractLocker::emergencyShow()
 {
+    if (m_background.isNull()) {
+        return;
+    }
     m_background->emergencyShow();
 }
 
diff --git a/autotests/CMakeLists.txt b/autotests/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/autotests/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/autotests/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -54,3 +54,16 @@
 )
 add_test(ksmserver-x11LockerTest x11LockerTest)
 ecm_mark_as_test(x11LockerTest)
+
+#######################################
+# NoScreensTest
+#######################################
+set(noScreensTest_SRCS noscreens.cpp)
+add_executable(noScreensTest ${noScreensTest_SRCS})
+target_link_libraries(noScreensTest
+    KScreenLocker
+    Qt5::Test
+    KF5::WaylandServer
+    )
+add_test(ksld-noScreensTest noScreensTest)
+ecm_mark_as_test(noScreensTest)
diff --git a/autotests/noscreens.cpp b/autotests/noscreens.cpp
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/autotests/noscreens.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+/********************************************************************
+ KSld - the KDE Screenlocker Daemon
+ This file is part of the KDE project.
+
+Copyright (C) 2016 Martin Gräßlin <mgraesslin@kde.org>
+
+This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
+(at your option) any later version.
+
+This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*********************************************************************/
+
+#include <QtTest/QtTest>
+#include "../ksldapp.h"
+#include <KWayland/Server/compositor_interface.h>
+#include <KWayland/Server/datadevicemanager_interface.h>
+#include <KWayland/Server/display.h>
+#include <KWayland/Server/output_interface.h>
+#include <KWayland/Server/seat_interface.h>
+#include <KWayland/Server/shell_interface.h>
+#include <KWayland/Server/plasmashell_interface.h>
+
+using namespace KWayland::Server;
+
+class NoScreensTest : public QObject
+{
+    Q_OBJECT
+Q_SIGNALS:
+    void surfaceShown();
+
+private Q_SLOTS:
+    void initTestCase();
+    void cleanup();
+    void testAllQScreensClose();
+
+private:
+    void unlock();
+    Display *m_display = nullptr;
+    CompositorInterface *m_compositor = nullptr;
+    ShellInterface *m_shell = nullptr;
+    SeatInterface *m_seat = nullptr;
+    PlasmaShellInterface *m_plasma = nullptr;
+    SurfaceInterface *m_surface = nullptr;
+};
+
+void NoScreensTest::initTestCase()
+{
+    m_display = new Display(this);
+    m_display->start(Display::StartMode::ConnectClientsOnly);
+    m_compositor = m_display->createCompositor(m_display);
+    m_compositor->create();
+    m_shell = m_display->createShell(m_display);
+    m_shell->create();
+    m_display->createShm();
+    m_seat = m_display->createSeat(m_display);
+    m_seat->setHasKeyboard(true);
+    m_seat->setHasPointer(true);
+    m_seat->setHasTouch(true);
+    m_seat->create();
+    m_display->createDataDeviceManager(m_display)->create();
+    m_plasma = m_display->createPlasmaShell(m_display);
+    m_plasma->create();
+
+    QCoreApplication::instance()->setProperty("platformName", QStringLiteral("wayland"));
+    ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self();
+    ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->setWaylandDisplay(m_display);
+    QProcessEnvironment env = QProcessEnvironment::systemEnvironment();
+    env.insert("QT_QPA_PLATFORM", "wayland");
+    ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->setGreeterEnvironment(env);
+    ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->initialize();
+    connect(m_shell, &ShellInterface::surfaceCreated, this,
+        [this] (ShellSurfaceInterface *surface) {
+            m_surface = surface->surface();
+            connect(surface->surface(), &SurfaceInterface::damaged, this,
+                [this, surface] {
+                    emit surfaceShown();
+                    ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->lockScreenShown();
+                    surface->surface()->frameRendered(0);
+                    surface->client()->flush();
+                }
+            );
+        }
+    );
+}
+
+void NoScreensTest::cleanup()
+{
+    unlock();
+}
+
+void NoScreensTest::unlock()
+{
+    using namespace ScreenLocker;
+    const auto children = KSldApp::self()->children();
+    for (auto it = children.begin(); it != children.end(); ++it) {
+        if (qstrcmp((*it)->metaObject()->className(), "LogindIntegration") != 0) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        QMetaObject::invokeMethod(*it, "requestUnlock");
+        break;
+    }
+}
+
+void NoScreensTest::testAllQScreensClose()
+{
+    QSignalSpy lockedStateSpy(ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self(), &ScreenLocker::KSldApp::lockStateChanged);
+    QVERIFY(lockedStateSpy.isValid());
+    QSignalSpy greeterConnectionSpy(ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self(), &ScreenLocker::KSldApp::greeterClientConnectionChanged);
+    QVERIFY(greeterConnectionSpy.isValid());
+
+    QSignalSpy surfaceShownSpy(this, &NoScreensTest::surfaceShown);
+    QVERIFY(surfaceShownSpy.isValid());
+
+    // create an Output
+    OutputInterface *output = m_display->createOutput(m_display);
+    output->setGlobalPosition(QPoint(0, 0));
+    output->setPhysicalSize(QSize(1280, 1024) / 3.8);
+    output->addMode(QSize(1280, 1024));
+    output->create();
+
+    ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->lock(ScreenLocker::EstablishLock::Immediate);
+    QCOMPARE(lockedStateSpy.count(), 1);
+    QCOMPARE(greeterConnectionSpy.count(), 1);
+    QCOMPARE(ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->lockState(), ScreenLocker::KSldApp::AcquiringLock);
+
+    QVERIFY(surfaceShownSpy.wait());
+    QCOMPARE(ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->lockState(), ScreenLocker::KSldApp::Locked);
+
+    // give some time to show the window
+    QTest::qWait(5000);
+
+    // deleting the output should destroy the surface
+    QVERIFY(m_surface);
+    QSignalSpy surfaceDestroyedSpy(m_surface, &QObject::destroyed);
+    QVERIFY(surfaceDestroyedSpy.isValid());
+
+    output->deleteLater();
+    QVERIFY(surfaceDestroyedSpy.wait());
+    QCOMPARE(ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->lockState(), ScreenLocker::KSldApp::Locked);
+
+    QVERIFY(!lockedStateSpy.wait());
+    QCOMPARE(ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->lockState(), ScreenLocker::KSldApp::Locked);
+
+    unlock();
+    QTRY_COMPARE(ScreenLocker::KSldApp::self()->lockState(), ScreenLocker::KSldApp::Unlocked);
+}
+
+QTEST_GUILESS_MAIN(NoScreensTest)
+#include "noscreens.moc"
diff --git a/ksldapp.cpp b/ksldapp.cpp
--- a/ksldapp.cpp
+++ b/ksldapp.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@
     , m_powerManagementInhibition(new PowerManagementInhibition(this))
 {
     m_isX11 = QX11Info::isPlatformX11();
-    m_isWayland = QGuiApplication::platformName().startsWith( QLatin1String("wayland"), Qt::CaseInsensitive);
+    m_isWayland = QCoreApplication::instance()->property("platformName").toString().startsWith( QLatin1String("wayland"), Qt::CaseInsensitive);
 }
 
 KSldApp::~KSldApp()