diff --git a/libkscreensaver/main.cpp b/libkscreensaver/main.cpp
index e80dd6bff..466182361 100644
--- a/libkscreensaver/main.cpp
+++ b/libkscreensaver/main.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
 #include "kscreensaver.h"
 #include "kscreensaver_vroot.h"
 
+bool argb_visual = FALSE;
+
 extern "C"
 {
     extern const char *kss_applicationName;
@@ -98,7 +100,12 @@ KDE_EXPORT int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     KCmdLineArgs::addCmdLineOptions(options);
 
+#ifdef HAVE_XCOMPOSITE
+    KApplication app(KApplication::openX11RGBADisplay());
+    argb_visual = app.isX11CompositionAvailable();
+#else
     KApplication app;
+#endif
 
     KCrash::setCrashHandler( crashHandler );
     KGlobal::locale()->insertCatalogue("klock");