diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index f9fff2430..65617d98f 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -424,7 +424,10 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
   meta_set_wm_name (WM_NAME);
   meta_set_gnome_wm_keybindings (GNOME_WM_KEYBINDINGS);
 
+  /* Prevent meta_init() from causing gtk to load the atk-bridge*/
+  g_setenv ("NO_AT_BRIDGE", "1", TRUE);
   meta_init ();
+  g_unsetenv ("NO_AT_BRIDGE");
 
   /* FIXME: Add gjs API to set this stuff and don't depend on the
    * environment.  These propagate to child processes.