--- openjdk/src/java.desktop/share/classes/java/awt/Toolkit.java
+++ openjdk/src/java.desktop/share/classes/java/awt/Toolkit.java
@@ -601,9 +601,13 @@
                 !(toolkit instanceof HeadlessToolkit)) {
                 toolkit = new HeadlessToolkit(toolkit);
             }
             if (!GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless()) {
-                loadAssistiveTechnologies();
+                try {
+                    loadAssistiveTechnologies();
+                } catch (AWTError error) {
+                    // ignore silently
+                }
             }
         }
         return toolkit;
     }