diff --git a/apps/openmw/main.cpp b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
index b1bbb14f2..13e9d9241 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/main.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/main.cpp
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <components/files/configurationmanager.hpp>
 
-#include <SDL_messagebox.h>
-#include <SDL_main.h>
+#include <SDL.h>
 #include "engine.hpp"
 
 #if defined(_WIN32) && !defined(_CONSOLE)
@@ -282,7 +281,7 @@ int main(int argc, char**argv)
     }
     catch (std::exception &e)
     {
-        if (isatty(fileno(stdin)))
+        if (isatty(fileno(stdin)) || !SDL_WasInit(SDL_INIT_VIDEO))
             std::cerr << "\nERROR: " << e.what() << std::endl;
         else
             SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(0, "OpenMW: Fatal error", e.what(), NULL);