diff --git a/gtk/gtkapplication.c b/gtk/gtkapplication.c
index 91b14af558..dd2aeb038c 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkapplication.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkapplication.c
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ static void
 gtk_application_add_platform_data (GApplication    *application,
                                    GVariantBuilder *builder)
 {
-  const gchar *startup_id;
+  GdkDisplay *display;
 
   /* This is slightly evil.
    *
@@ -338,11 +338,16 @@ gtk_application_add_platform_data (GApplication    *application,
    *
    * So we do all the things... which currently is just one thing.
    */
-  startup_id = getenv ("DESKTOP_STARTUP_ID");
+  display = gdk_display_get_default ();
+  if (display)
+    {
+      const gchar *startup_id;
 
-  if (startup_id && g_utf8_validate (startup_id, -1, NULL))
-    g_variant_builder_add (builder, "{sv}", "desktop-startup-id",
-                           g_variant_new_string (startup_id));
+      startup_id = gdk_display_get_startup_notification_id (display);
+      if (startup_id && g_utf8_validate (startup_id, -1, NULL))
+        g_variant_builder_add (builder, "{sv}", "desktop-startup-id",
+                               g_variant_new_string (startup_id));
+    }
 }
 
 static void