diff --git a/run_electrum b/run_electrum
index 5b403977b..23822cf09 100755
--- a/run_electrum
+++ b/run_electrum
@@ -322,12 +322,14 @@ def main():
 
     # config is an object passed to the various constructors (wallet, interface, gui)
     if is_android:
+        import importlib
+        android_gui = 'kivy' if importlib.find_loader('kivy') else 'qml'
         from jnius import autoclass
         build_config = autoclass("org.electrum.electrum.BuildConfig")
         config_options = {
             'verbosity': '*', #if build_config.DEBUG else '',
             'cmd': 'gui',
-            'gui': 'qml',
+            'gui': android_gui,
             'single_password':True,
         }
     else: