diff --git a/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/Bot.java b/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/Bot.java
index 65db398bf..6041e2669 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/Bot.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/Bot.java
@@ -46,12 +46,12 @@ public class Bot
     private final NowplayingHandler nowplaying;
     private final AloneInVoiceHandler aloneInVoiceHandler;
     private final YoutubeOauth2TokenHandler youTubeOauth2TokenHandler;
+    private final GUI gui;
     
     private boolean shuttingDown = false;
     private JDA jda;
-    private GUI gui;
     
-    public Bot(EventWaiter waiter, BotConfig config, SettingsManager settings)
+    public Bot(EventWaiter waiter, BotConfig config, SettingsManager settings, GUI gui)
     {
         this.waiter = waiter;
         this.config = config;
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ public Bot(EventWaiter waiter, BotConfig config, SettingsManager settings)
         this.nowplaying.init();
         this.aloneInVoiceHandler = new AloneInVoiceHandler(this);
         this.aloneInVoiceHandler.init();
+        this.gui = gui;
     }
     
     public BotConfig getConfig()
@@ -161,9 +162,4 @@ public void setJDA(JDA jda)
     {
         this.jda = jda;
     }
-    
-    public void setGUI(GUI gui)
-    {
-        this.gui = gui;
-    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/JMusicBot.java b/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/JMusicBot.java
index 30409a6bf..2e2ad7ddb 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/JMusicBot.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/JMusicBot.java
@@ -82,28 +82,15 @@ private static void startBot()
         config.load();
         if(!config.isValid())
             return;
-        LOG.info("Loaded config from " + config.getConfigLocation());
 
-        // set log level from config
-        ((ch.qos.logback.classic.Logger) LoggerFactory.getLogger(Logger.ROOT_LOGGER_NAME)).setLevel(
-                Level.toLevel(config.getLogLevel(), Level.INFO));
-        
-        // set up the listener
-        EventWaiter waiter = new EventWaiter();
-        SettingsManager settings = new SettingsManager();
-        Bot bot = new Bot(waiter, config, settings);
-        CommandClient client = createCommandClient(config, settings, bot);
-        
+        GUI gui = null;
         
         if(!prompt.isNoGUI())
         {
-            try 
+            try
             {
-                GUI gui = new GUI(bot);
-                bot.setGUI(gui);
+                gui = new GUI();
                 gui.init();
-
-                LOG.info("Loaded config from " + config.getConfigLocation());
             }
             catch(Exception e)
             {
@@ -113,6 +100,21 @@ private static void startBot()
             }
         }
         
+        LOG.info("Loaded config from " + config.getConfigLocation());
+
+        // set log level from config
+        ((ch.qos.logback.classic.Logger) LoggerFactory.getLogger(Logger.ROOT_LOGGER_NAME)).setLevel(
+                Level.toLevel(config.getLogLevel(), Level.INFO));
+        
+        // set up the listener
+        EventWaiter waiter = new EventWaiter();
+        SettingsManager settings = new SettingsManager();
+        Bot bot = new Bot(waiter, config, settings, gui);
+        if (gui != null)
+            gui.setBot(bot);    
+        CommandClient client = createCommandClient(config, settings, bot);
+
+        
         // attempt to log in and start
         try
         {
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/gui/GUI.java b/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/gui/GUI.java
index e3f47ae7a..6e8ecab2e 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/gui/GUI.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/jagrosh/jmusicbot/gui/GUI.java
@@ -30,15 +30,18 @@
 public class GUI extends JFrame 
 {
     private final ConsolePanel console;
-    private final Bot bot;
+    private Bot bot;
     
-    public GUI(Bot bot) 
+    public GUI() 
     {
         super();
-        this.bot = bot;
         console = new ConsolePanel();
     }
     
+    public void setBot(Bot bot) {
+        this.bot = bot;
+    }
+    
     public void init()
     {
         setDefaultCloseOperation(WindowConstants.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
@@ -56,7 +59,8 @@ public void init()
             {
                 try
                 {
-                    bot.shutdown();
+                    if (bot != null)
+                        bot.shutdown();
                 }
                 catch(Exception ex)
                 {