diff --git a/WINGs/wclient_wl.c b/WINGs/wclient_wl.c
index 18a66be..7aab6d5 100644
--- a/WINGs/wclient_wl.c
+++ b/WINGs/wclient_wl.c
@@ -941,7 +941,9 @@ W_WLClientInit(struct W_Screen *scrPtr, const char *display)
     memset(ctx, 0, sizeof(*ctx));
     ctx->scr = scrPtr;
 
-    ctx->display = wl_display_connect(display);
+    ctx->display = wl_display_connect(
+        (display && display[0] && strcmp(display, "wayland") != 0)
+        ? display : NULL);
     if (!ctx->display) {
         wwarning(_("WINGs: wl_display_connect() failed"));
         goto fail;