diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_scrn.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_scrn.c
index 4bf0f5ec4fc2..2b6590344468 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_scrn.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx_scrn.c
@@ -949,6 +949,10 @@ int vmw_kms_sou_init_display(struct vmw_private *dev_priv)
 	struct drm_device *dev = dev_priv->dev;
 	int i, ret;
 
+	/* Screen objects won't work if GMR's aren't available */
+	if (!dev_priv->has_gmr)
+		return -ENOSYS;
+
 	if (!(dev_priv->capabilities & SVGA_CAP_SCREEN_OBJECT_2)) {
 		DRM_INFO("Not using screen objects,"
 			 " missing cap SCREEN_OBJECT_2\n");