diff --git a/modules/juce_gui_basics/native/juce_linux_X11_Windowing.cpp b/modules/juce_gui_basics/native/juce_linux_X11_Windowing.cpp
index 276865b8e4..821e6e7e15 100644
--- a/modules/juce_gui_basics/native/juce_linux_X11_Windowing.cpp
+++ b/modules/juce_gui_basics/native/juce_linux_X11_Windowing.cpp
@@ -3442,10 +3442,13 @@ void Displays::findDisplays (float masterScale)
 
         auto getWorkAreaPropertyData = [&] (int screenNum) -> unsigned char*
         {
-            GetXProperty prop (display, RootWindow (display, screenNum), hints, 0, 4, false, XA_CARDINAL);
+            if (hints != None)
+            {
+                GetXProperty prop (display, RootWindow (display, screenNum), hints, 0, 4, false, XA_CARDINAL);
 
-            if (prop.success && prop.actualType == XA_CARDINAL && prop.actualFormat == 32 && prop.numItems == 4)
-                return prop.data;
+                if (prop.success && prop.actualType == XA_CARDINAL && prop.actualFormat == 32 && prop.numItems == 4)
+                    return prop.data;
+            }
 
             return nullptr;
         };