diff --git a/display_utils.py b/display_utils.py
index 9fff9df1d9b0fe02d90b004a7dc74f2878775008..490928a81cca6cd7a0f52b3d120315e3c6a9f136 100644
--- a/display_utils.py
+++ b/display_utils.py
@@ -111,6 +111,8 @@ def disp(*args, **kwargs):
 def set_display_mode(mode):
     from IPython import get_ipython
     ipython = get_ipython()
+    if ipython is None:
+        return
     global animation_display_mode
     global display_animation_func
     animation_display_mode = mode