diff --git a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/variant/VCFview.java b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/variant/VCFview.java
index 6ae68c96d9356c43b6738ef16a8b791f49376316..00a1f2bbe22a9c982194a98ff370d081f60e3f9f 100644
--- a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/variant/VCFview.java
+++ b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/variant/VCFview.java
@@ -367,7 +367,9 @@ public class VCFview extends JPanel
     
     
     final JMenuItem byQuality = new JMenuItem("Filter ...");
-    filter = new VCFFilter(VCFview.this);
+    if(!Options.getOptions().getPropertyTruthValue("java.awt.headless"))
+      filter = new VCFFilter(VCFview.this);
+    
     byQuality.addActionListener(new ActionListener(){
       public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e)
       {