diff --git a/kitty/constants.py b/kitty/constants.py
index 266c39b3f..3df302562 100644
--- a/kitty/constants.py
+++ b/kitty/constants.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ version = (0, 5, 1)
 str_version = '.'.join(map(str, version))
 _plat = sys.platform.lower()
 is_macos = 'darwin' in _plat
+base = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
 
 
 ScreenGeometry = namedtuple('ScreenGeometry', 'xstart ystart xnum ynum dx dy')
@@ -58,4 +59,11 @@ except KeyError:
     print('Failed to read login shell from /etc/passwd for current user, falling back to /bin/sh', file=sys.stderr)
     shell_path = '/bin/sh'
 
-iswayland = False
+
+def glfw_path(module):
+    return os.path.join(base, 'glfw-{}.so'.format(module))
+
+
+is_wayland = False
+if os.environ.get('WAYLAND_DISPLAY') and os.path.exists(glfw_path('wayland')):
+    is_wayland = True
diff --git a/kitty/main.py b/kitty/main.py
index d8efa5ef5..6617bf0ba 100644
--- a/kitty/main.py
+++ b/kitty/main.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from .borders import load_borders_program
 from .boss import Boss
 from .cli import create_opts, option_parser
 from .config import initial_window_size, load_cached_values, save_cached_values
-from .constants import is_macos, iswayland, logo_data_file
+from .constants import is_macos, is_wayland, logo_data_file, glfw_path
 from .fast_data_types import (
     change_wcwidth, create_os_window, glfw_init, glfw_terminate,
     install_sigchld_handler, set_default_window_icon, set_logical_dpi,
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@ from .utils import (
 )
 from .window import load_shader_programs
 
-base = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
-
 
 def load_all_shaders():
     load_shader_programs()
@@ -34,20 +32,20 @@ def load_all_shaders():
 
 
 def init_graphics():
-    glfw_module = 'cocoa' if is_macos else 'x11'
-    if not glfw_init(os.path.join(base, 'glfw-{}.so'.format(glfw_module))):
+    glfw_module = 'cocoa' if is_macos else ('wayland' if is_wayland else 'x11')
+    if not glfw_init(glfw_path(glfw_module)):
         raise SystemExit('GLFW initialization failed')
     return glfw_module
 
 
 def run_app(opts, args):
     set_scale(opts.box_drawing_scale)
-    set_options(opts, iswayland, args.debug_gl)
+    set_options(opts, is_wayland, args.debug_gl)
     load_cached_values()
     w, h = initial_window_size(opts)
     window_id = create_os_window(w, h, encode_wm_class(args.name, args.cls), True, load_all_shaders)
     startup_ctx = init_startup_notification(window_id)
-    if not iswayland and not is_macos:  # no window icons on wayland
+    if not is_wayland and not is_macos:  # no window icons on wayland
         with open(logo_data_file, 'rb') as f:
             set_default_window_icon(f.read(), 256, 256)
     set_logical_dpi(*get_logical_dpi())
diff --git a/kitty/utils.py b/kitty/utils.py
index bfde2c4ec..3527c0079 100644
--- a/kitty/utils.py
+++ b/kitty/utils.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from contextlib import contextmanager
 from functools import lru_cache
 from time import monotonic
 
-from .constants import appname, is_macos, iswayland
+from .constants import appname, is_macos, is_wayland
 from .fast_data_types import (
     GLSL_VERSION, glfw_get_physical_dpi, glfw_primary_monitor_content_scale,
     redirect_std_streams, wcwidth as wcwidth_impl, x11_display, x11_window_id
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def parse_color_set(raw):
 
 
 def set_primary_selection(text):
-    if is_macos or iswayland:
+    if is_macos or is_wayland:
         return  # There is no primary selection
     if isinstance(text, bytes):
         text = text.decode('utf-8')
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def set_primary_selection(text):
 
 
 def get_primary_selection():
-    if is_macos or iswayland:
+    if is_macos or is_wayland:
         return ''  # There is no primary selection
     from kitty.fast_data_types import get_primary_selection
     return (get_primary_selection() or b'').decode('utf-8', 'replace')
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ def end_startup_notification_x11(ctx):
 
 
 def init_startup_notification(window, startup_id=None):
-    if is_macos or iswayland:
+    if is_macos or is_wayland:
         return
     try:
         return init_startup_notification_x11(window, startup_id)
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ def init_startup_notification(window, startup_id=None):
 def end_startup_notification(ctx):
     if not ctx:
         return
-    if is_macos or iswayland:
+    if is_macos or is_wayland:
         return
     try:
         end_startup_notification_x11(ctx)