diff --git a/wicd/backends/be-ioctl.py b/wicd/backends/be-ioctl.py
index 1a1c1e4..4314054 100644
--- a/wicd/backends/be-ioctl.py
+++ b/wicd/backends/be-ioctl.py
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ class Interface(BaseInterface):
 
     def CheckWirelessTools(self):
         """ Check for the existence needed wireless tools """
-        # We don't need any external apps so just return
-        pass
+        if not WPACTRL_AVAIL:
+            BaseInterface.CheckWirelessTools(self)
 
     @neediface("")
     def GetIP(self, ifconfig=""):
diff --git a/wicd/gui.py b/wicd/gui.py
index 61b0b5b..2a2e174 100644
--- a/wicd/gui.py
+++ b/wicd/gui.py
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ def setup_dbus(force=True):
     except DBusException:
         if force:
             print "Can't connect to the daemon, trying to start it automatically..."
-            misc.PromptToStartDaemon()
+            if not misc.PromptToStartDaemon():
+                print "Failed to find a graphical sudo program, cannot continue."
+                return False
             try:
                 dbusmanager.connect_to_dbus()
             except DBusException:
diff --git a/wicd/misc.py b/wicd/misc.py
index 3b66f2f..202c9a4 100644
--- a/wicd/misc.py
+++ b/wicd/misc.py
@@ -155,6 +155,8 @@ def PromptToStartDaemon():
     """ Prompt the user to start the daemon """
     daemonloc = wpath.sbin + 'wicd'
     sudo_prog = choose_sudo_prog()
+    if not sudo_prog:
+        return False
     if "gksu" in sudo_prog or "ktsuss" in sudo_prog:
         msg = '--message'
     else:
@@ -163,6 +165,7 @@ def PromptToStartDaemon():
                  'Wicd needs to access your computer\'s network cards.',
                  daemonloc]
     os.spawnvpe(os.P_WAIT, sudo_prog, sudo_args, os.environ)
+    return True
 
 def RunRegex(regex, string):
     """ runs a regex search on a string """
@@ -453,8 +456,7 @@ def choose_sudo_prog(prog_num=0):
     for path in paths:
         if os.path.exists(path):
             return path
-    
-    return None
+    return ""
 
 def find_path(cmd):
     """ Try to find a full path for a given file name.