diff --git a/demos/gtk-demo/main.c b/demos/gtk-demo/main.c
index 3a733bc7a2..f7ec23d236 100644
--- a/demos/gtk-demo/main.c
+++ b/demos/gtk-demo/main.c
@@ -1146,6 +1146,8 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   };
   int i;
 
+  gtk_init ();
+
   app = gtk_application_new ("org.gtk.Demo4", G_APPLICATION_NON_UNIQUE|G_APPLICATION_HANDLES_COMMAND_LINE);
 
   g_action_map_add_action_entries (G_ACTION_MAP (app),
diff --git a/examples/bp/bloatpad.c b/examples/bp/bloatpad.c
index d8d7786e95..3f9d115756 100644
--- a/examples/bp/bloatpad.c
+++ b/examples/bp/bloatpad.c
@@ -717,6 +717,8 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   int status;
   const char *accels[] = { "F11", NULL };
 
+  gtk_init ();
+
   bloat_pad = bloat_pad_new ();
 
   gtk_application_set_accels_for_action (GTK_APPLICATION (bloat_pad),