diff --git a/src/lib/com/izforge/izpack/installer/Installer.java b/src/lib/com/izforge/izpack/installer/Installer.java
index 7cb324cef0..6e5865efe0 100644
--- a/src/lib/com/izforge/izpack/installer/Installer.java
+++ b/src/lib/com/izforge/izpack/installer/Installer.java
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 package com.izforge.izpack.installer;
 
+import java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.Iterator;
@@ -101,6 +102,11 @@ else if ("-language".equalsIgnoreCase(arg))
 		        }
 		    }
 		    
+		    // if headless, just use the console mode
+		    if (type == INSTALLER_GUI && GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless()) {
+		        type = INSTALLER_CONSOLE;
+		    }
+		    
 		    switch (type)
 		    {
 		        case INSTALLER_GUI: