diff --git a/src/fontset.c b/src/fontset.c
index 332be6c39d1..52c7e381e15 100644
--- a/src/fontset.c
+++ b/src/fontset.c
@@ -1356,6 +1356,9 @@ check_fontset_name (Lisp_Object name, Lisp_Object *frame)
   int id;
   struct frame *f = decode_live_frame (*frame);
 
+  if (!FRAME_WINDOW_P (f))
+    error ("Can't use fontsets in non-GUI frames");
+
   XSETFRAME (*frame, f);
 
   if (EQ (name, Qt))