diff --git a/abstract_backend.h b/abstract_backend.h
index 13db34134d..1d1d73a94a 100644
--- a/abstract_backend.h
+++ b/abstract_backend.h
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ public:
 
 Q_SIGNALS:
     void screensQueried();
+    void initFailed();
     void cursorChanged();
     void readyChanged(bool);
 
diff --git a/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.cpp b/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.cpp
index 252dcf1094..87d72f2c63 100644
--- a/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.cpp
+++ b/backends/wayland/wayland_backend.cpp
@@ -368,6 +368,7 @@ WaylandBackend::WaylandBackend(const QByteArray &display, QObject *parent)
     , m_displayName(display)
 {
     connect(this, &WaylandBackend::outputsChanged, this, &WaylandBackend::screensQueried);
+    connect(this, &WaylandBackend::connectionFailed, this, &WaylandBackend::initFailed);
 }
 
 WaylandBackend::~WaylandBackend()
diff --git a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp b/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp
index 334ba7503e..e3f853d9b7 100644
--- a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp
+++ b/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.cpp
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ void X11WindowedBackend::init()
         waylandServer()->seat()->setHasPointer(true);
         waylandServer()->seat()->setHasKeyboard(true);
         emit screensQueried();
+    } else {
+        emit initFailed();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h b/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h
index dc47299e59..900b34b57f 100644
--- a/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h
+++ b/backends/x11/x11windowed_backend.h
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@ public:
     }
     xcb_window_t rootWindow() const;
 
-    bool isValid() const {
-        return m_connection != nullptr && m_window != XCB_WINDOW_NONE;
-    }
-
     QSize size() const {
         return m_size;
     }
diff --git a/main_wayland.cpp b/main_wayland.cpp
index 51cb0bf676..4fdbca6313 100644
--- a/main_wayland.cpp
+++ b/main_wayland.cpp
@@ -102,12 +102,6 @@ void ApplicationWayland::createBackend()
     if (m_windowed) {
         if (!m_waylandDisplay.isEmpty()) {
             Wayland::WaylandBackend *b = new Wayland::WaylandBackend(m_waylandDisplay, this);
-            connect(b, &Wayland::WaylandBackend::connectionFailed, this,
-                [] () {
-                    fputs(i18n("kwin_wayland: could not connect to Wayland Server, ensure WAYLAND_DISPLAY is set.\n").toLocal8Bit().constData(), stderr);
-                    ::exit(1);
-                }
-            );
             backend = b;
         }
         if (!backend && !m_x11Display.isEmpty()) {
@@ -129,6 +123,12 @@ void ApplicationWayland::createBackend()
 
     if (backend) {
         connect(backend, &AbstractBackend::screensQueried, this, &ApplicationWayland::continueStartupWithScreens);
+        connect(backend, &AbstractBackend::initFailed, this,
+            [] () {
+                std::cerr <<  "FATAL ERROR: backend failed to initialize, exiting now" << std::endl;
+                ::exit(1);
+            }
+        );
         backend->init();
     } else {
         std::cerr <<  "FATAL ERROR: could not create a backend, exiting now" << std::endl;