diff --git a/src/helpers/MiscFunctions.cpp b/src/helpers/MiscFunctions.cpp
index 85a816571dd..712637481f0 100644
--- a/src/helpers/MiscFunctions.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/MiscFunctions.cpp
@@ -708,6 +708,10 @@ int64_t configStringToInt(const std::string& VALUE) {
     } else if (VALUE.starts_with("false") || VALUE.starts_with("off") || VALUE.starts_with("no")) {
         return 0;
     }
+
+    if (VALUE.empty() || !isNumber(VALUE))
+        return 0;
+
     return std::stoll(VALUE);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 40ddf39052b..27a768bad35 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
 
     g_pCompositor->initServer();
 
-    Init::gainRealTime();
+    if (!getenv("HYPRLAND_NO_RT") || configStringToInt(std::string(getenv("HYPRLAND_NO_RT"))) == 0)
+        Init::gainRealTime();
 
     Debug::log(LOG, "Hyprland init finished.");