diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index fafcf134e8..2e4c179aff 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -495,7 +495,7 @@ AS_IF([test $USE_GTK -eq 1],
     AC_CHECK_HEADERS([gtk/gtk.h], [], [USE_GTK=0])
     CPPFLAGS="$saved_CPPFLAGS"
   ])
-AM_CONDITIONAL([USE_GTK], [test $USE_GTK -eq 1])
+dnl USE_GTK conditional is delayed after being sure to handle X11
 
 dnl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 dnl -- VA-API                                                                --
@@ -528,6 +528,9 @@ if test $USE_X11 -eq 1; then
     ])
 fi
 
+dnl export USE_GTK after being sure to handle X11
+AM_CONDITIONAL([USE_GTK], [test $USE_X11 -eq 1 -a $USE_GTK -eq 1])
+
 dnl Check for encoding support
 USE_ENCODERS=0
 if test "x$enable_encoders" = "xyes"; then