diff --git a/python/deskbar-handler/tracker-handler.py b/python/deskbar-handler/tracker-handler.py
index 72fb72f..eb5cf6c 100644
--- a/python/deskbar-handler/tracker-handler.py
+++ b/python/deskbar-handler/tracker-handler.py
@@ -34,7 +34,11 @@ def _check_requirements ():
 			activatables = dbus_iface.ListActivatableNames()
 			if not "org.freedesktop.Tracker" in activatables:
 				return (deskbar.Handler.HANDLER_IS_NOT_APPLICABLE, "Tracker is not activatable via dbus", None)	
-				
+
+			try: # check if tracker is actually activatable
+				tracker = bus.get_object('org.freedesktop.Tracker','/org/freedesktop/tracker')
+			except:
+				return (deskbar.Handler.HANDLER_IS_NOT_APPLICABLE, "Tracker could not be started automatically.", None)
 		except:
 			return (deskbar.Handler.HANDLER_IS_NOT_APPLICABLE, "Python dbus.glib bindings not found.", None)
 		return (deskbar.Handler.HANDLER_IS_HAPPY, None, None)