diff --git a/src/vkvm.cpp b/src/vkvm.cpp
index 16d4bbc..a81cf22 100644
--- a/src/vkvm.cpp
+++ b/src/vkvm.cpp
@@ -13,17 +13,19 @@ void initialize(int pid) {
 
     impl.sharedMemorySize = 8000;// NOLINT
 
-    //set default values
-    setCharactersPerRow(60);// NOLINT
-    setCharactersPerColumn(20);// NOLINT
-    setHeight(600);// NOLINT
-    setWidth(800);// NOLINT
-    setMousePosition(42,42);// NOLINT
-    setBackgroundColor(Color(200,50,20));// NOLINT
-    setForegroundColor(Color(20,200,50));// NOLINT
-    setMode(GraphicMode::TrueColor);// NOLINT
-    setRedrawInterval(20);// NOLINT
-    setTimerInterruptInterval(10);// NOLINT
+    if(getSharedMemory() != nullptr) {
+        //set default values
+        setCharactersPerRow(60);// NOLINT
+        setCharactersPerColumn(20);// NOLINT
+        setHeight(600);// NOLINT
+        setWidth(800);// NOLINT
+        setMousePosition(42, 42);// NOLINT
+        setBackgroundColor(Color(200, 50, 20));// NOLINT
+        setForegroundColor(Color(20, 200, 50));// NOLINT
+        setMode(GraphicMode::TrueColor);// NOLINT
+        setRedrawInterval(20);// NOLINT
+        setTimerInterruptInterval(10);// NOLINT
+    }
 }
 
 bool registerEvent(EventType type, const std::function<void()> &handler) {