diff --git a/gtk/inspector/window.c b/gtk/inspector/window.c
index da54753ae7..ea4bb96ccd 100644
--- a/gtk/inspector/window.c
+++ b/gtk/inspector/window.c
@@ -209,6 +209,12 @@ get_inspector_screen (void)
   if (display == NULL)
     {
       const gchar *name;
+      const gchar *backends;
+
+      backends = g_getenv ("GTK_INSPECTOR_BACKEND");
+
+      if (backends)
+        gdk_set_allowed_backends (backends);
 
       name = g_getenv ("GTK_INSPECTOR_DISPLAY");
       display = gdk_display_open (name);