diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp
index ca8ab64e2b..e3a7e72800 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,13 @@
 #include <wx/stdpaths.h>
 #include <memory>
 
+#ifdef __WXGTK__
+#include <gdk/gdkx.h>
+#ifdef GDK_WINDOWING_X11
+#include <X11/Xlib.h>
+#endif
+#endif	// __WXGTK__
+
 using namespace pxSizerFlags;
 
 void Pcsx2App::DetectCpuAndUserMode()
@@ -707,6 +714,11 @@ Pcsx2App::Pcsx2App()
 	}
 #endif
 
+#ifdef GDK_WINDOWING_X11
+	// This *must* be done in the constructor, before wx starts making X calls.
+	XInitThreads();
+#endif
+
 	m_PendingSaves = 0;
 	m_ScheduledTermination = false;
 	m_UseGUI = true;