diff --git a/xpra/x11/desktop/desktop_server.py b/xpra/x11/desktop/desktop_server.py
index eb17b41b06..59b69d77f3 100644
--- a/xpra/x11/desktop/desktop_server.py
+++ b/xpra/x11/desktop/desktop_server.py
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.root_prop_watcher = None
         self.resize_value = -1, -1
 
-    def server_init(self) -> None:
-        super().server_init()
+    def init_randr(self) -> None:
+        super().init_randr()
         from xpra.x11.vfb_util import set_initial_resolution
-        screenlog(f"server_init() randr={self.randr}, initial-resolutions={self.initial_resolutions}")
+        screenlog(f"init_randr() randr={self.randr}, initial-resolutions={self.initial_resolutions}")
         if not RandR.has_randr() or not self.initial_resolutions or not features.display:
             return
         res = self.initial_resolutions
diff --git a/xpra/x11/desktop/monitor_server.py b/xpra/x11/desktop/monitor_server.py
index c1fe4c0827..aa40ff8b67 100644
--- a/xpra/x11/desktop/monitor_server.py
+++ b/xpra/x11/desktop/monitor_server.py
@@ -52,10 +52,10 @@ def __init__(self):
         self.reconfigure_timer: int = 0
         self.reconfigure_locked: bool = False
 
-    def server_init(self) -> None:
-        super().server_init()
+    def init_randr(self) -> None:
+        super().init_randr()
         from xpra.x11.vfb_util import set_initial_resolution
-        screenlog(f"server_init() randr={self.randr}, initial-resolutions={self.initial_resolutions}")
+        screenlog(f"init_randr() randr={self.randr}, initial-resolutions={self.initial_resolutions}")
         if not RandR.has_randr() or not self.initial_resolutions:
             return
         res = self.initial_resolutions
diff --git a/xpra/x11/server/core.py b/xpra/x11/server/core.py
index 9d8d14b051..e027168ed8 100644
--- a/xpra/x11/server/core.py
+++ b/xpra/x11/server/core.py
@@ -164,8 +164,7 @@ def x11_init(self) -> None:
         with xsync:
             self.init_x11_atoms()
         with xlog:
-            if self.randr:
-                self.init_randr()
+            self.init_randr()
         with xlog:
             self.init_cursor()
         with xlog:
@@ -178,8 +177,11 @@ def save_mode(self) -> None:
         save_mode(self.get_server_mode())
 
     def init_randr(self) -> None:
-        self.randr = RandR.has_randr()
+        if self.randr and not RandR.has_randr():
+            self.randr = False
         screenlog("randr=%s", self.randr)
+        if not self.randr:
+            return
         # check the property first,
         # because we may be inheriting this display,
         # in which case the screen sizes list may be longer than 1
@@ -198,8 +200,7 @@ def init_randr(self) -> None:
                 # xwayland?
                 self.randr = False
                 self.randr_exact_size = False
-        screenlog("randr=%s, exact size=%s", self.randr, self.randr_exact_size)
-        screenlog("randr enabled: %s", self.randr)
+        screenlog(f"randr enabled: {self.randr}, exact size={self.randr_exact_size}")
         if not self.randr:
             screenlog.warn("Warning: no X11 RandR support on %s", os.environ.get("DISPLAY"))