diff --git a/src/xpra/os_util.py b/src/xpra/os_util.py
index f773ea49de..223c9f2566 100644
--- a/src/xpra/os_util.py
+++ b/src/xpra/os_util.py
@@ -361,6 +361,9 @@ def getUbuntuVersion():
 def is_unity():
     return os.environ.get("XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP", "").lower().startswith("unity")
 
+def is_gnome():
+    return os.environ.get("XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP", "").lower().startswith("gnome")
+
 def is_WSL():
     if not POSIX:
         return False
diff --git a/src/xpra/platform/xposix/appindicator_tray.py b/src/xpra/platform/xposix/appindicator_tray.py
index 9954c629e9..1a46e09449 100644
--- a/src/xpra/platform/xposix/appindicator_tray.py
+++ b/src/xpra/platform/xposix/appindicator_tray.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 import os
 
 from xpra.util import envbool
-from xpra.os_util import is_unity, monotonic_time, getUbuntuVersion, PYTHON2, PYTHON3
+from xpra.os_util import is_unity, is_gnome, monotonic_time, getUbuntuVersion, PYTHON2, PYTHON3
 from xpra.client.tray_base import TrayBase
 from xpra.platform.paths import get_icon_dir, get_icon_filename
 from xpra.log import Logger
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def get_application_category(appindicator):
     return v
 
 def can_use_appindicator():
-    return get_appindicator() is not None
+    return get_appindicator() is not None and (is_unity() or is_gnome())
 
 
 class AppindicatorTray(TrayBase):