diff --git a/lib/solaar/gtk.py b/lib/solaar/gtk.py
index f728420..d69092c 100644
--- a/lib/solaar/gtk.py
+++ b/lib/solaar/gtk.py
@@ -88,7 +88,12 @@ def main():
 	if args.action: return _cli.run(args.action, args.hidraw_path)
 
 	gi = _require('gi', 'python-gi')
-	gi.require_version('Gtk', '3.0')
+	try:
+		gi.require_version('Gtk', '3.0')
+	except ValueError:
+		import sys
+		sys.exit("%s: Gtk (version 3) must be installed in order to run the graphical interface." % (NAME))
+
 	_require('gi.repository.Gtk', 'gir1.2-gtk-3.0')
 
 	try:
