diff --git a/src/core/screen.c b/src/core/screen.c
index 13e8c7f3a..61217249d 100644
--- a/src/core/screen.c
+++ b/src/core/screen.c
@@ -1262,9 +1262,11 @@ meta_screen_update_cursor (MetaScreen *screen)
   MetaCursorTracker *tracker = meta_cursor_tracker_get_for_screen (screen);
 
   cursor_ref = meta_cursor_reference_from_theme (cursor);
+  if (cursor_ref == NULL)
+    g_fatal ("Could not find cursor. Perhaps set XCURSOR_PATH?");
+
   meta_cursor_tracker_set_root_cursor (tracker, cursor_ref);
-  if (cursor_ref)
-    meta_cursor_reference_unref (cursor_ref);
+  meta_cursor_reference_unref (cursor_ref);
 
   /* Set a cursor for X11 applications that don't specify their own */
   xcursor = meta_display_create_x_cursor (display, cursor);