diff --git a/src/gs-manager.c b/src/gs-manager.c
index 6c42b78..e9a2e93 100644
--- a/src/gs-manager.c
+++ b/src/gs-manager.c
@@ -522,6 +522,7 @@ activate_dpms_timeout (GSManager *manager) {
     BOOL state;
     CARD16 power_level;
 
+    if (manager->priv->active) {
         if (DPMSInfo(gdk_x11_get_default_xdisplay(), &power_level, &state)) {
             if (state) {
                 if (power_level == DPMSModeOn) {
@@ -536,6 +537,7 @@ activate_dpms_timeout (GSManager *manager) {
                 }
             }
         }
+    }
 
     manager->priv->dpms_timeout_id = 0;
     return FALSE;