diff --git a/src/app/app.cpp b/src/app/app.cpp
index 6fb660734..1aafee2ee 100644
--- a/src/app/app.cpp
+++ b/src/app/app.cpp
@@ -371,7 +371,8 @@ void App::run()
 #if defined(_DEBUG) || defined(ENABLE_DEVMODE)
     // On OS X, when we compile Aseprite on devmode, we're using it
     // outside an app bundle, so we must active the app explicitly.
-    os::instance()->activateApp();
+    if (isGui())
+      os::instance()->activateApp();
 #endif
 
 #ifdef ENABLE_UPDATER