diff --git a/flow/scripts/final_report.tcl b/flow/scripts/final_report.tcl
index 928e92bf2b..48b30b74ff 100644
--- a/flow/scripts/final_report.tcl
+++ b/flow/scripts/final_report.tcl
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ report_cell_usage
 report_metrics 6 "finish"
 
 # Save a final image if openroad is compiled with the gui
-if { [ord::openroad_gui_compiled] } {
+# and a display is available (skip on headless machines)
+if { [ord::openroad_gui_compiled] && [env_var_exists_and_non_empty DISPLAY] } {
   gui::show "source $::env(SCRIPTS_DIR)/save_images.tcl" false
 }