diff --git a/bin/vlc.c b/bin/vlc.c
index 68cbfa07b2a630ebace6259366d7388c540c74e8..e141b4b431728c065c0c0d9facb00ae3dc3150d6 100644
--- a/bin/vlc.c
+++ b/bin/vlc.c
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ int main( int i_argc, const char *ppsz_argv[] )
     /* Disable the ugly Gnome crash dialog so that we properly segfault */
     putenv( (char *)"GNOME_DISABLE_CRASH_DIALOG=1" );
 # endif
+
+    /* Make Xlib hide visuals with an alphachannel. Ensure that Qt4 will not
+     * use the alpha channel for the embedded video window. */
+    putenv( (char *)"XLIB_SKIP_ARGB_VISUALS=1" );
 #endif
 #ifdef HAVE_SETENV
     /* Clear the X.Org startup notification ID. Otherwise the UI might try to