--- a/smalltalk.rc	Sat Dec 31 00:05:51 2016 +0000
+++ b/smalltalk.rc	Sat Jan 07 22:58:16 2017 +0000
@@ -222,20 +222,8 @@
 	'smalltalk.rc [info]: opening display...' infoPrintCR.
 	Screen openDefaultDisplay:nil.
     ] on:Screen deviceOpenErrorSignal do:[:ex|
-	('smalltalk.rc [warning]: no display connection to: ', ex parameter printString) errorPrintCR.
-	'smalltalk.rc [info]: either set the DISPLAY environment variable,' infoPrintCR.
-	'smalltalk.rc [info]: or start smalltalk with a -display argument.' infoPrintCR.
-	Smalltalk isStandAloneApp ifFalse:[
-	    '' errorPrintCR.
-	    'Textmode (enter smalltalk expressions terminated by single exclamation mark;' errorPrintCR.
-	    OperatingSystem isUNIXlike ifTrue:[
-		'          CTRL-D to leave line-by-line interpreter.)' errorPrintCR.
-	    ] ifFalse:[
-		'          CTRL-Z to leave line-by-line interpreter.)' errorPrintCR.
-	    ].
-	    Smalltalk readEvalPrint.
-	].
-	Smalltalk exit
+	('smalltalk.rc [info]: failed to open display: ', ex description) infoPrintCR.
+	Smalltalk beHeadless: true.
     ].
 ].