diff --git a/src/freedombone-image-customise b/src/freedombone-image-customise
index 8396135f..aa3d79c1 100755
--- a/src/freedombone-image-customise
+++ b/src/freedombone-image-customise
@@ -586,6 +586,10 @@ function mesh_client_startup_applications {
     echo 'dconf write /org/mate/caja/desktop/volumes-visible false' >> $START_DESKTOP
     echo 'dconf write /org/mate/desktop/media-handling/automount-open false' >> $START_DESKTOP
     echo 'dconf write /org/mate/desktop/screensaver/lock-enabled false' >> $START_DESKTOP
+    echo "touch /home/$MY_USERNAME/.dbus/Xdbus" >> $START_DESKTOP
+    echo "chmod 600 /home/$MY_USERNAME/.dbus/Xdbus" >> $START_DESKTOP
+    echo "env | grep DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS > /home/$MY_USERNAME/.dbus/Xdbus" >> $START_DESKTOP
+    echo "echo 'export DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS' >> /home/$MY_USERNAME/.dbus/Xdbus" >> $START_DESKTOP
     chmod +x $START_DESKTOP
 
     START_DESKTOP2=$rootdir/home/$MY_USERNAME/.config/autostart/mesh-start.desktop
@@ -646,6 +650,8 @@ function configure_user_interface {
     # to provide notifications
     chroot "$rootdir" apt-get -y install libnotify-bin
 
+    # some dbus stuff to enable notifications
+
     if [[ $VARIANT != "usb" ]]; then
         # log in automatically
         chroot "$rootdir" apt-get -y install nodm xinit
diff --git a/src/zeronetavahi b/src/zeronetavahi
index 80a5902a..3e01cb78 100755
--- a/src/zeronetavahi
+++ b/src/zeronetavahi
@@ -132,7 +132,12 @@ function detect_new_tox_users {
                     # get the nick of the user
                     toxuser="$(echo "$line" | awk -F ' ' '{print $1}')"
 
-                    export DISPLAY=:0.0 && export XAUTHORITY=/home/$MESH_USERNAME/.Xauthority && sudo -u MESH_USERNAME /usr/bin/notify-send $"$toxuser" $"has joined the mesh" --icon=dialog-information
+                    if [ -r "/home/$MESH_USERNAME/.dbus/Xdbus" ]; then
+                        . "/home/$MESH_USERNAME/.dbus/Xdbus"
+                    fi
+                    export DISPLAY=:0.0
+                    export XAUTHORITY=/home/$MESH_USERNAME/.Xauthority
+                    sudo -u MESH_USERNAME /usr/bin/notify-send $"$toxuser" $"has joined the mesh" --icon=dialog-information
                     break
                 fi
             fi