diff --git a/src/gui/util/qdesktopservices.cpp b/src/gui/util/qdesktopservices.cpp
index 085c073bb12..c9747877f71 100644
--- a/src/gui/util/qdesktopservices.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/util/qdesktopservices.cpp
@@ -198,8 +198,15 @@ bool QDesktopServices::openUrl(const QUrl &url)
         return false;
 
     QPlatformIntegration *platformIntegration = QGuiApplicationPrivate::platformIntegration();
-    if (!platformIntegration)
+    if (Q_UNLIKELY(!platformIntegration)) {
+        QCoreApplication *application = QCoreApplication::instance();
+        if (Q_UNLIKELY(!application))
+            qWarning("QDesktopServices::openUrl: Please instantiate the QGuiApplication object "
+                     "first");
+        else if (Q_UNLIKELY(!qobject_cast<QGuiApplication *>(application)))
+            qWarning("QDesktopServices::openUrl: Application is not a GUI application");
         return false;
+    }
 
     QPlatformServices *platformServices = platformIntegration->services();
     if (!platformServices) {