diff --git a/test/build-test.xml b/test/build-test.xml
index 69f0a16b8755674b3aafa18bd757f28b14ec57aa..9f3c935adb1235479779a719c1b0d72ecf46319d 100644
--- a/test/build-test.xml
+++ b/test/build-test.xml
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@
   	<echo>Running test with EMBOSS_ROOT=${EMBOSS_ROOT}</echo>
   	<junit description="alltests" fork="yes">
   	 <jvmarg value="-DEMBOSS_ROOT=${EMBOSS_ROOT}"/>
+     <jvmarg value="-Djava.awt.headless=true"/>
   	 <batchtest todir="${build.dest.tests}">
   	 	<fileset dir="${build.src.tests}">
   	 		<include name="uk/ac/sanger/artemis/**/**Test.java"/>