diff --git a/src/managers/XWaylandManager.cpp b/src/managers/XWaylandManager.cpp
index f3f301da..6d8b24fe 100644
--- a/src/managers/XWaylandManager.cpp
+++ b/src/managers/XWaylandManager.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ CHyprXWaylandManager::CHyprXWaylandManager() {
         setenv("DISPLAY", m_sWLRXWayland->display_name, 1);
 
         Debug::log(LOG, "CHyprXWaylandManager started on display %s", m_sWLRXWayland->display_name);
+    } else {
+        unsetenv("DISPLAY"); // unset DISPLAY so that X11 apps do not try to start on a different/invalid DISPLAY
     }
 }