diff --git a/composite.cpp b/composite.cpp
index 754e06b119..ecb61bb4c8 100644
--- a/composite.cpp
+++ b/composite.cpp
@@ -221,6 +221,11 @@ void Compositor::slotCompositingOptionsInitialized()
         m_starting = false;
         cm_selection->owning = false;
         cm_selection->release();
+        if (kwinApp()->requiresCompositing()) {
+            qCritical() << "The used windowing system requires compositing";
+            qCritical() << "We are going to quit KWin now as it is broken";
+            qApp->quit();
+        }
         return;
     }
     if (m_scene == NULL || m_scene->initFailed()) {
@@ -231,6 +236,11 @@ void Compositor::slotCompositingOptionsInitialized()
         m_starting = false;
         cm_selection->owning = false;
         cm_selection->release();
+        if (kwinApp()->requiresCompositing()) {
+            qCritical() << "The used windowing system requires compositing";
+            qCritical() << "We are going to quit KWin now as it is broken";
+            qApp->quit();
+        }
         return;
     }
     m_xrrRefreshRate = KWin::currentRefreshRate();
@@ -412,6 +422,10 @@ void Compositor::slotReinitialize()
 // for the shortcut
 void Compositor::slotToggleCompositing()
 {
+    if (kwinApp()->requiresCompositing()) {
+        // we are not allowed to turn on/off compositing
+        return;
+    }
     if (m_suspended) { // direct user call; clear all bits
         resume(AllReasonSuspend);
     } else { // but only set the user one (sufficient to suspend)
@@ -442,6 +456,9 @@ void Compositor::updateCompositeBlocking()
 
 void Compositor::updateCompositeBlocking(Client *c)
 {
+    if (kwinApp()->requiresCompositing()) {
+        return;
+    }
     if (c) { // if c == 0 we just check if we can resume
         if (c->isBlockingCompositing()) {
             if (!(m_suspended & BlockRuleSuspend)) // do NOT attempt to call suspend(true); from within the eventchain!
@@ -464,6 +481,9 @@ void Compositor::updateCompositeBlocking(Client *c)
 
 void Compositor::suspend(Compositor::SuspendReason reason)
 {
+    if (kwinApp()->requiresCompositing()) {
+        return;
+    }
     Q_ASSERT(reason != NoReasonSuspend);
     m_suspended |= reason;
     finish();
@@ -478,6 +498,9 @@ void Compositor::resume(Compositor::SuspendReason reason)
 
 void Compositor::setCompositing(bool active)
 {
+    if (kwinApp()->requiresCompositing()) {
+        return;
+    }
     if (active) {
         resume(ScriptSuspend);
     } else {
diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index cc36c13085..c3fc859681 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -218,6 +218,11 @@ bool Application::shouldUseWaylandForCompositing() const
     return m_operationMode == OperationModeWaylandAndX11;
 }
 
+bool Application::requiresCompositing() const
+{
+    return shouldUseWaylandForCompositing();
+}
+
 void Application::start()
 {
     setQuitOnLastWindowClosed(false);
diff --git a/main.h b/main.h
index 4911c18bad..7c32f65ed0 100644
--- a/main.h
+++ b/main.h
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@ public:
     OperationMode operationMode() const;
     void setOperationMode(OperationMode mode);
     bool shouldUseWaylandForCompositing() const;
+    bool requiresCompositing() const;
 
     static void setCrashCount(int count);
     static bool wasCrash();
diff --git a/options.h b/options.h
index d0f0fefb46..48ce693681 100644
--- a/options.h
+++ b/options.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 #include <kdecoration.h>
 
+#include "main.h"
 #include "placement.h"
 
 namespace KWin
@@ -496,7 +497,7 @@ public:
     }
     // Separate to mode so the user can toggle
     bool isUseCompositing() const {
-        return m_useCompositing;
+        return m_useCompositing || kwinApp()->requiresCompositing();
     }
     bool isCompositingInitialized() const {
         return m_compositingInitialized;
@@ -507,7 +508,7 @@ public:
         return m_hiddenPreviews;
     }
     bool isUnredirectFullscreen() const {
-        return m_unredirectFullscreen;
+        return m_unredirectFullscreen && !kwinApp()->requiresCompositing();
     }
     // OpenGL
     // 0 = no, 1 = yes when transformed,