Index: src/hid/common/hidinit.c
===================================================================
--- src/hid/common/hidinit.c	(revision 484)
+++ src/hid/common/hidinit.c	(revision 485)
@@ -188,7 +188,6 @@
 		for (i = 0; i < hid_num_hids; i++)
 			if (!hid_list[i]->printer && !hid_list[i]->exporter && !strcmp(hid_list[i]->name, preference))
 				return hid_list[i];
-		Message("Error: can't find gui '%s' (requested by the user)\n", preference);
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
Index: src/main.c
===================================================================
--- src/main.c	(revision 484)
+++ src/main.c	(revision 485)
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@
 
 #define PCBLIBPATH ".:" PCBLIBDIR
 
-
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBSTROKE
 extern void stroke_init (void);
 #endif
@@ -88,6 +87,10 @@
 
 char *fontfile_paths[] = {"./default_font", PCBLIBDIR "/default_font", NULL};
 
+/* Try gui libs in this order when not explicitly specified by the user
+   if there are multiple GUIs available this sets the order of preference */
+static const char *try_gui_hids[] = {"gtk", "lesstif", NULL};
+
 /* ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  * initialize signal and error handlers
  */
@@ -1672,9 +1675,21 @@
     argc -= 2;
     argv += 2;
   }
-  else
-    gui = hid_find_gui (NULL);
+  else {
+    const char **g;
 
+    gui = NULL;
+    for(g = try_gui_hids; (*g != NULL) && (gui == NULL); g++) {
+      gui = hid_find_gui (*g);
+    }
+
+    /* try anything */
+    if (gui == NULL) {
+      Message("Warning: can't find any of the preferred GUIs, falling back to anything available...\n");
+      gui = hid_find_gui (NULL);
+    }
+  }
+
   /* Exit with error if GUI failed to start. */
   if (!gui)
     exit (1);