diff --git a/src/remote/remote_daemon.c b/src/remote/remote_daemon.c
index d44a365000..d90355c0d2 100644
--- a/src/remote/remote_daemon.c
+++ b/src/remote/remote_daemon.c
@@ -631,23 +631,27 @@ static void daemonRunStateInit(void *opaque)
     /* Tie the non-privileged daemons to the session/shutdown lifecycle */
     if (!virNetDaemonIsPrivileged(dmn)) {
 
-        sessionBus = virGDBusGetSessionBus();
-        if (sessionBus != NULL)
-            g_dbus_connection_add_filter(sessionBus,
-                                         handleSessionMessageFunc, dmn, NULL);
+        if (virGDBusHasSessionBus()) {
+            sessionBus = virGDBusGetSessionBus();
+            if (sessionBus != NULL)
+                g_dbus_connection_add_filter(sessionBus,
+                                             handleSessionMessageFunc, dmn, NULL);
+        }
 
-        systemBus = virGDBusGetSystemBus();
-        if (systemBus != NULL)
-            g_dbus_connection_signal_subscribe(systemBus,
-                                               "org.freedesktop.login1",
-                                               "org.freedesktop.login1.Manager",
-                                               "PrepareForShutdown",
-                                               NULL,
-                                               NULL,
-                                               G_DBUS_SIGNAL_FLAGS_NONE,
-                                               handleSystemMessageFunc,
-                                               dmn,
-                                               NULL);
+        if (virGDBusHasSystemBus()) {
+            systemBus = virGDBusGetSystemBus();
+            if (systemBus != NULL)
+                g_dbus_connection_signal_subscribe(systemBus,
+                                                   "org.freedesktop.login1",
+                                                   "org.freedesktop.login1.Manager",
+                                                   "PrepareForShutdown",
+                                                   NULL,
+                                                   NULL,
+                                                   G_DBUS_SIGNAL_FLAGS_NONE,
+                                                   handleSystemMessageFunc,
+                                                   dmn,
+                                                   NULL);
+        }
     }
 
     /* Only now accept clients from network */