--- src/timer-applet.orig	2010-07-10 10:29:03.000000000 +0200
+++ src/timer-applet	2010-07-10 10:16:24.000000000 +0200
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@
 import gettext
 import locale
 import sys
-import gtk
+try:
+    import gtk
+except RuntimeError:
+    print sys.stderr, "Couldn't import gtk. Do you have a running X session?"
+    sys.exit(1)
 import gnomeapplet
 from timerapplet import config
 from timerapplet.controllers import GlobalController, TimerApplet, TimerService, TimerManagerService