diff --git a/wxPython/wxPython/tools/img2img.py b/wxPython/wxPython/tools/img2img.py
index dbefc261a4..3ce1e9f7ff 100644
--- a/wxPython/wxPython/tools/img2img.py
+++ b/wxPython/wxPython/tools/img2img.py
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ Common routines for the image converter utilities.
 import sys, os, glob, getopt, string
 from wxPython.wx import *
 
+if wxPlatform == "__WXGTK__":
+    # some bitmap related things need to have a wxApp initialized...
+    app = wxPySimpleApp()
+
 wxInitAllImageHandlers()
 
 def convert(file, maskClr, outputDir, outputName, outType, outExt):