1 files changed, 5 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/swaylock/main.c b/swaylock/main.c
index 27bcfe32..04c0bb07 100644
--- a/swaylock/main.c
+++ b/swaylock/main.c
@@ -908,7 +908,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
         wl_list_init(&state.surfaces);
         state.xkb.context = xkb_context_new(XKB_CONTEXT_NO_FLAGS);
         state.display = wl_display_connect(NULL);
-        assert(state.display);
+        if (!state.display) {
+                sway_abort("Unable to connect to the compositor. "
+                                "If your compositor is running, check or set the "
+                                "WAYLAND_DISPLAY environment variable.");
+        }
 
         struct wl_registry *registry = wl_display_get_registry(state.display);
         wl_registry_add_listener(registry, &registry_listener, &state);