diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 4ad15b808c..b5ec266d5f 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -4267,6 +4267,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv, char **envp)
     /* init local displays */
     switch (display_type) {
     case DT_NOGRAPHIC:
+        (void)ds;	/* avoid warning if no display is configured */
         break;
 #if defined(CONFIG_CURSES)
     case DT_CURSES: