diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c86c0eaf..92c35225 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@
 
 * Exit when the client application terminates, not when the TTY file
   descriptor is closed.
+* Crash on compositors not implementing the _text input_ interface
+  (https://codeberg.org/dnkl/foot/issues/259).
 
 
 ### Security
diff --git a/ime.c b/ime.c
index 24237d69..9e2699f2 100644
--- a/ime.c
+++ b/ime.c
@@ -327,6 +327,9 @@ ime_reset(struct seat *seat)
 void
 ime_enable(struct seat *seat)
 {
+    if (unlikely(seat->wayl->text_input_manager == NULL))
+        return;
+
     struct terminal *term = seat->kbd_focus;
     assert(term != NULL);
 
@@ -348,6 +351,9 @@ ime_enable(struct seat *seat)
 void
 ime_disable(struct seat *seat)
 {
+    if (unlikely(seat->wayl->text_input_manager == NULL))
+        return;
+
     ime_reset(seat);
 
     zwp_text_input_v3_disable(seat->wl_text_input);
diff --git a/wayland.c b/wayland.c
index f156533e..7dbf8593 100644
--- a/wayland.c
+++ b/wayland.c
@@ -1130,6 +1130,13 @@ wayl_init(const struct config *conf, struct fdm *fdm)
         goto out;
     }
 
+#if defined(FOOT_IME_ENABLED) && FOOT_IME_ENABLED
+    if (wayl->text_input_manager == NULL) {
+        LOG_WARN("text input interface not implemented by compositor; "
+                 "IME will be disabled");
+    }
+#endif
+
     /* Trigger listeners registered when handling globals */
     wl_display_roundtrip(wayl->display);