diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 52b7a82b..fb3a0871 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ byobu (5.2) unreleased; urgency=low
       ctrl-shift-left/right;  seems alt-left-right are used by irssi
   * README: LP: #911825
     - add note about tmux version required
+  * usr/lib/byobu/include/common: LP: #911149
+    - when backend is not automatically set, check if screen or tmux
+      is installed on the system before setting the default backend
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:28:51 -0600
 
diff --git a/usr/lib/byobu/include/common b/usr/lib/byobu/include/common
index 80ccee8c..d6ade629 100755
--- a/usr/lib/byobu/include/common
+++ b/usr/lib/byobu/include/common
@@ -27,7 +27,16 @@ if [ -z "${BYOBU_INCLUDED_LIBS}" ]; then
 		[ -r "/etc/$PKG/backend" ] && . "/etc/$PKG/backend"
 		[ -r "$BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR/backend" ] && . "$BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR/backend"
 		# Just in case there's no config file at all
-		[ -z "${BYOBU_BACKEND}" ] && BYOBU_BACKEND=tmux
+		if [ -z "${BYOBU_BACKEND}" ]; then
+			# If tmux is installed, use it
+			if command -v tmux >/dev/null; then
+				BYOBU_BACKEND=tmux
+			elif command -v screen >/dev/null; then
+				BYOBU_BACKEND=screen
+			else
+				echo "ERROR: $PKG won't work without tmux or screen installed" 1>&2
+			fi
+		fi
   	fi
 
 	# Creating backend cache