diff --git a/lib/browser/init.js b/lib/browser/init.js
index 0234d8f99de5..a6f5803a524b 100644
--- a/lib/browser/init.js
+++ b/lib/browser/init.js
@@ -162,11 +162,24 @@ require('./api/protocol')
 // Set main startup script of the app.
 const mainStartupScript = packageJson.main || 'index.js'
 
+const KNOWN_XDG_DESKTOP_VALUES = ['Pantheon', 'Unity:Unity7', 'pop:GNOME']
+
+function currentPlatformSupportsAppIndicator() {
+  if (process.platform !== 'linux') return false
+  const currentDesktop = process.env.XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
+
+  if (!currentDesktop) return false
+  if (KNOWN_XDG_DESKTOP_VALUES.includes(currentDesktop)) return true
+  // ubuntu based or derived session (default ubuntu one, communitheme…) supports
+  // indicator too.
+  if (/ubuntu/ig.test(currentDesktop)) return true
+
+  return false
+}
+
 // Workaround for electron/electron#5050 and electron/electron#9046
-if (process.platform === 'linux') {
-  if (['Pantheon', 'Unity:Unity7', 'pop:GNOME'].includes(process.env.XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP) || process.env.XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP.includes('ubuntu')) {
-    process.env.XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP = 'Unity'
-  }
+if (currentPlatformSupportsAppIndicator()) {
+  process.env.XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP = 'Unity'
 }
 
 // Finally load app's main.js and transfer control to C++.