diff --git a/create_vm.sh b/create_vm.sh
index 72e0af52dbb6d7713df1a5daeb4e7372d88239fb..2b5dc00fbc7380a9b5433d60e3e461df69af4cb2 100644
--- a/create_vm.sh
+++ b/create_vm.sh
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ gettyEOF
 
 
 # autostart X (xfce) on tty1
-echo '[[ -z \$DISPLAY && \$XDG_VTNR -eq 1 ]] && exec startx' >> /home/$DEFAULT_USER/.bashrc
+echo '[[ -z \$DISPLAY && \$XDG_VTNR -eq 1 && -x /usr/bin/startx ]] && exec startx' >> /home/$DEFAULT_USER/.bashrc
 chown $DEFAULT_USER:$DEFAULT_USER /home/$DEFAULT_USER/.bashrc
 cat > /home/$DEFAULT_USER/.xinitrc <<"xinitrcEOF"
 #!/bin/sh