diff --git a/src/backends/meta-idle-monitor.c b/src/backends/meta-idle-monitor.c
index 46cf8cd76..91075ff42 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-idle-monitor.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-idle-monitor.c
@@ -246,7 +246,8 @@ meta_idle_monitor_init (MetaIdleMonitor *monitor)
   /* Monitor inhibitors */
   monitor->session_proxy =
     g_dbus_proxy_new_for_bus_sync (G_BUS_TYPE_SESSION,
-                                   G_DBUS_PROXY_FLAGS_DO_NOT_CONNECT_SIGNALS,
+                                   G_DBUS_PROXY_FLAGS_DO_NOT_CONNECT_SIGNALS |
+                                   G_DBUS_PROXY_FLAGS_DO_NOT_AUTO_START,
                                    NULL,
                                    "org.gnome.SessionManager",
                                    "/org/gnome/SessionManager",