diff --git a/kitty/main.py b/kitty/main.py
index a0c99eccc..61187b200 100644
--- a/kitty/main.py
+++ b/kitty/main.py
@@ -258,7 +258,10 @@ def setup_profiling(args):
 
 
 def main():
-    sys.setswitchinterval(1000.0)  # we have only a single python thread
+    try:
+        sys.setswitchinterval(1000.0)  # we have only a single python thread
+    except AttributeError:
+        pass  # python compiled without threading
     if isosx:
         ensure_osx_locale()
     try: