diff --git a/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/util/UIScale.java b/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/util/UIScale.java
index 10d34ff5..9f7ac69b 100644
--- a/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/util/UIScale.java
+++ b/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/util/UIScale.java
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ public class UIScale
 	}
 
 	public static double getSystemScaleFactor( GraphicsConfiguration gc ) {
-		return isSystemScalingEnabled() ? gc.getDefaultTransform().getScaleX() : 1;
+		return (isSystemScalingEnabled() && gc != null) ? gc.getDefaultTransform().getScaleX() : 1;
 	}
 
 	//---- user scaling (Java 8) ----------------------------------------------