diff --git a/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py b/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
index 4eefdbf2..ba0040fb 100644
--- a/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
+++ b/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
@@ -2941,6 +2941,7 @@ try:
     import gevent
 except ImportError as ex:
     print "cannot find gevent"
+    gevent = None
 else:
     def mainloop(app):
         while True: