diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
index 7363498319..1faad6c77f 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/__init__.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def _config():
               help=_('Columns to be displayed in the book list'))
     c.add_opt('autolaunch_server', default=False, help=_('Automatically launch content server on application startup'))
     c.add_opt('oldest_news', default=60, help=_('Oldest news kept in database'))
-    c.add_opt('systray_icon', default=True, help=_('Show system tray icon'))
+    c.add_opt('systray_icon', default=False, help=_('Show system tray icon'))
     c.add_opt('upload_news_to_device', default=True,
               help=_('Upload downloaded news to device'))
     c.add_opt('delete_news_from_library_on_upload', default=False,