diff --git a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11messagebox.c b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11messagebox.c
index 94d386f50a..a1432fbfa3 100644
--- a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11messagebox.c
+++ b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11messagebox.c
@@ -235,10 +235,12 @@ static bool X11_ShowMessageBoxImpl(const SDL_MessageBoxData *messageboxdata, int
 // Display an x11 message box.
 bool X11_ShowMessageBox(const SDL_MessageBoxData *messageboxdata, int *buttonID)
 {
-    if (SDL_Zenity_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonID)) {
-        return true;
+    if (!SDL_GetHintBoolean(SDL_HINT_VIDEO_X11_PREFER_TOOLKIT, false)) {
+        if (SDL_Zenity_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonID)) {
+            return true;
+        }
     }
-
+    
 #if SDL_FORK_MESSAGEBOX
     // Use a child process to protect against setlocale(). Annoying.
     pid_t pid;