diff --git a/test/net/java/sip/communicator/slick/popupmessagehandler/PopupMessageHandlerSLick.java b/test/net/java/sip/communicator/slick/popupmessagehandler/PopupMessageHandlerSLick.java
index c94bf89a9..b2491b801 100644
--- a/test/net/java/sip/communicator/slick/popupmessagehandler/PopupMessageHandlerSLick.java
+++ b/test/net/java/sip/communicator/slick/popupmessagehandler/PopupMessageHandlerSLick.java
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ public class PopupMessageHandlerSLick extends TestSuite implements BundleActivat
     /** implements BundleActivator.start() */
     public void start(BundleContext bc) throws Exception
     {
+        // if we are running in headless mode we will miss the systray service
+        // as the corresponding classes are not available, skip it
+        if(GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless())
+            return;
+
         logger.info("starting popup message test ");
 
         bundleContext = bc;