diff --git a/src/nnn.c b/src/nnn.c
index 85004e12..a1837fcf 100644
--- a/src/nnn.c
+++ b/src/nnn.c
@@ -3390,6 +3390,11 @@ static void browse(char *ipath)
 	if (!pnamebuf)
 		errexit();
 
+#ifdef __linux__
+	if (!getenv("DISPLAY"))
+		opener_flags = F_CLI;
+#endif
+
 begin:
 #ifdef LINUX_INOTIFY
 	if ((presel == FILTER || dir_changed) && inotify_wd >= 0) {