diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 6ab4ab85..76fdac52 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -331,6 +331,13 @@ PKG_CHECK_MODULES(THREADS, glib-2.0 >= 2.32,[
   ]
 )
 
+# after 2.36 the type system inits itself
+PKG_CHECK_MODULES(TYPE_INIT, glib-2.0 < 2.36,[
+  AC_DEFINE(NEED_TYPE_INIT,1,[define if your glib needs g_type_init().])
+  ],[
+  ]
+)
+
 # check for gtk-doc
 GTK_DOC_CHECK(1.9)
 
diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/init.c b/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
index 26965dd6..4b74e740 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/init.c
@@ -192,9 +192,11 @@ vips_init( const char *argv0 )
 		return( 0 );
 	started = TRUE;
 
-	/* Need gobject etc.
+#ifdef NEED_TYPE_INIT
+	/* Before glib 2.36 you have to call this on startup.
 	 */
 	g_type_init();
+#endif /*NEED_TYPE_INIT*/
 
 	/* Older glibs need this.
 	 */