diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/xcb/qxcbconnection.cpp b/src/plugins/platforms/xcb/qxcbconnection.cpp
index 8ed73bc2702..5fd1fc6a475 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/xcb/qxcbconnection.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/xcb/qxcbconnection.cpp
@@ -586,7 +586,8 @@ QXcbConnection::QXcbConnection(QXcbNativeInterface *nativeInterface, bool canGra
 
     initializeAllAtoms();
 
-    initializeShm();
+    if (!qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("QT_XCB_NO_MITSHM"))
+        initializeShm();
     if (!qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("QT_XCB_NO_XRANDR"))
         initializeXRandr();
     if (!has_randr_extension)