diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoingui.cpp
@@ -125,7 +125,11 @@
     createToolBars();
 
     // Create system tray icon and notification
-    createTrayIcon(networkStyle);
+    if (QSystemTrayIcon::isSystemTrayAvailable()) {
+        createTrayIcon(networkStyle);
+    }
+    notificator =
+        new Notificator(QApplication::applicationName(), trayIcon, this);
 
     // Create status bar
     statusBar();
@@ -576,7 +580,7 @@
         unitDisplayControl->setOptionsModel(_clientModel->getOptionsModel());
 
         OptionsModel *optionsModel = _clientModel->getOptionsModel();
-        if (optionsModel) {
+        if (optionsModel && trayIcon) {
             // be aware of the tray icon disable state change reported by the
             // OptionsModel object.
             connect(optionsModel, &OptionsModel::hideTrayIconChanged, this,
@@ -672,17 +676,14 @@
 }
 
 void BitcoinGUI::createTrayIcon(const NetworkStyle *networkStyle) {
+    assert(QSystemTrayIcon::isSystemTrayAvailable());
+
 #ifndef Q_OS_MAC
-    trayIcon = new QSystemTrayIcon(this);
+    trayIcon = new QSystemTrayIcon(networkStyle->getTrayAndWindowIcon(), this);
     QString toolTip = tr("%1 client").arg(tr(PACKAGE_NAME)) + " " +
                       networkStyle->getTitleAddText();
     trayIcon->setToolTip(toolTip);
-    trayIcon->setIcon(networkStyle->getTrayAndWindowIcon());
-    trayIcon->hide();
 #endif
-
-    notificator =
-        new Notificator(QApplication::applicationName(), trayIcon, this);
 }
 
 void BitcoinGUI::createTrayIconMenu() {
diff --git a/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp b/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp
--- a/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/optionsdialog.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include <QIntValidator>
 #include <QLocale>
 #include <QMessageBox>
+#include <QSystemTrayIcon>
 #include <QTimer>
 
 OptionsDialog::OptionsDialog(QWidget *parent, bool enableWallet)
@@ -138,6 +139,13 @@
             &OptionsDialog::updateProxyValidationState);
     connect(ui->proxyPortTor, &QLineEdit::textChanged, this,
             &OptionsDialog::updateProxyValidationState);
+
+    if (!QSystemTrayIcon::isSystemTrayAvailable()) {
+        ui->hideTrayIcon->setChecked(true);
+        ui->hideTrayIcon->setEnabled(false);
+        ui->minimizeToTray->setChecked(false);
+        ui->minimizeToTray->setEnabled(false);
+    }
 }
 
 OptionsDialog::~OptionsDialog() {
@@ -240,8 +248,10 @@
 
 /* Window */
 #ifndef Q_OS_MAC
-    mapper->addMapping(ui->hideTrayIcon, OptionsModel::HideTrayIcon);
-    mapper->addMapping(ui->minimizeToTray, OptionsModel::MinimizeToTray);
+    if (QSystemTrayIcon::isSystemTrayAvailable()) {
+        mapper->addMapping(ui->hideTrayIcon, OptionsModel::HideTrayIcon);
+        mapper->addMapping(ui->minimizeToTray, OptionsModel::MinimizeToTray);
+    }
     mapper->addMapping(ui->minimizeOnClose, OptionsModel::MinimizeOnClose);
 #endif