diff --git a/src/i830_memory.c b/src/i830_memory.c
index 2e238e25..b62bda05 100644
--- a/src/i830_memory.c
+++ b/src/i830_memory.c
@@ -384,6 +384,8 @@ i830_allocator_init(ScrnInfoPtr pScrn, unsigned long offset, unsigned long size)
     i830_memory *start, *end;
 #ifdef XF86DRI
     int dri_major, dri_minor, dri_patch;
+    struct drm_i915_getparam gp;
+    int has_gem;
 #endif
 
     start = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*start));
@@ -424,12 +426,19 @@ i830_allocator_init(ScrnInfoPtr pScrn, unsigned long offset, unsigned long size)
 #ifdef XF86DRI
     DRIQueryVersion(&dri_major, &dri_minor, &dri_patch);
 
+    has_gem = 0;
+    gp.param = I915_PARAM_HAS_GEM;
+    gp.value = &has_gem;
+
+    (void)drmCommandWriteRead(pI830->drmSubFD, DRM_I915_GETPARAM,
+			      &gp, sizeof(gp));
+
     /* Now that we have our manager set up, initialize the kernel MM if
      * possible, covering almost all of the aperture.  We need libdri interface
      * 5.4 or newer so we can rely on the lock being held after DRIScreenInit,
      * rather than after DRIFinishScreenInit.
      */
-    if (pI830->directRenderingEnabled && pI830->drmMinor >= 7 &&
+    if (pI830->directRenderingEnabled && has_gem &&
 	(dri_major > 5 || (dri_major == 5 && dri_minor >= 4)))
     {
 	int mmsize;