diff --git a/src/api.rs b/src/api.rs
index eeed4d8..dd05072 100644
--- a/src/api.rs
+++ b/src/api.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use std::ffi::OsString;
+use std::{env, ffi::OsString};
 
 use crate::{
     conversions,
@@ -104,11 +104,21 @@ pub fn distro() -> Result<String> {
     Target::distro(Os)
 }
 
-/// Get the desktop environment.
+/// Get the desktop environment (if any).
 ///
 /// Example: "gnome" or "windows"
+///
+/// Returns `None` if a desktop environment is not available (for example in a
+/// TTY or over SSH)
 #[inline(always)]
-pub fn desktop_env() -> DesktopEnv {
+pub fn desktop_env() -> Option<DesktopEnv> {
+    if env::var_os("SSH_CLIENT").is_some()
+        || env::var_os("SSH_TTY").is_some()
+        || env::var_os("SSH_CONNECTION").is_some()
+    {
+        return None;
+    }
+
     Target::desktop_env(Os)
 }
 
diff --git a/src/os.rs b/src/os.rs
index af3695d..bec975e 100644
--- a/src/os.rs
+++ b/src/os.rs
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ pub(crate) trait Target: Sized {
     /// Return the OS distribution's name.
     fn distro(self) -> Result<String>;
     /// Return the desktop environment.
-    fn desktop_env(self) -> DesktopEnv;
+    fn desktop_env(self) -> Option<DesktopEnv>;
     /// Return the target platform.
     fn platform(self) -> Platform;
     /// Return the computer's CPU architecture.
diff --git a/src/os/daku.rs b/src/os/daku.rs
index 826b0ba..3e93560 100644
--- a/src/os/daku.rs
+++ b/src/os/daku.rs
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ impl Target for Os {
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
-    fn desktop_env(self) -> DesktopEnv {
-        DesktopEnv::Unknown("Unknown Daku".to_string())
+    fn desktop_env(self) -> Option<DesktopEnv> {
+        None
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
diff --git a/src/os/redox.rs b/src/os/redox.rs
index 2e7994a..0d92901 100644
--- a/src/os/redox.rs
+++ b/src/os/redox.rs
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ impl Target for Os {
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
-    fn desktop_env(self) -> DesktopEnv {
-        DesktopEnv::Orbital
+    fn desktop_env(self) -> Option<DesktopEnv> {
+        Some(DesktopEnv::Orbital)
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
diff --git a/src/os/target.rs b/src/os/target.rs
index 7822257..8ac1f12 100644
--- a/src/os/target.rs
+++ b/src/os/target.rs
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ impl Target for Os {
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
-    fn desktop_env(self) -> DesktopEnv {
-        DesktopEnv::Unknown("Unknown".to_string())
+    fn desktop_env(self) -> Option<DesktopEnv> {
+        None
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
diff --git a/src/os/unix.rs b/src/os/unix.rs
index 5755bdf..c37341c 100644
--- a/src/os/unix.rs
+++ b/src/os/unix.rs
@@ -589,11 +589,10 @@ impl Target for Os {
         }
     }
 
-    fn desktop_env(self) -> DesktopEnv {
+    fn desktop_env(self) -> Option<DesktopEnv> {
         #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
         let env = "Aqua";
 
-        // FIXME: use `let else`
         #[cfg(any(
             target_os = "linux",
             target_os = "dragonfly",
@@ -603,23 +602,9 @@ impl Target for Os {
             target_os = "illumos",
             target_os = "hurd",
         ))]
-        let env = env::var_os("DESKTOP_SESSION");
-        #[cfg(any(
-            target_os = "linux",
-            target_os = "dragonfly",
-            target_os = "freebsd",
-            target_os = "netbsd",
-            target_os = "openbsd",
-            target_os = "illumos",
-            target_os = "hurd",
-        ))]
-        let env = if let Some(ref env) = env {
-            env.to_string_lossy()
-        } else {
-            return DesktopEnv::Unknown("Unknown".to_string());
-        };
+        let env = env::var_os("DESKTOP_SESSION")?.to_string_lossy();
 
-        if env.eq_ignore_ascii_case("AQUA") {
+        Some(if env.eq_ignore_ascii_case("AQUA") {
             DesktopEnv::Aqua
         } else if env.eq_ignore_ascii_case("GNOME") {
             DesktopEnv::Gnome
@@ -636,7 +621,7 @@ impl Target for Os {
         // TODO: Other Linux Desktop Environments
         } else {
             DesktopEnv::Unknown(env.to_string())
-        }
+        })
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
diff --git a/src/os/wasi.rs b/src/os/wasi.rs
index a26f108..6c65d58 100644
--- a/src/os/wasi.rs
+++ b/src/os/wasi.rs
@@ -45,12 +45,9 @@ impl Target for Os {
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
-    fn desktop_env(self) -> DesktopEnv {
-        if let Some(ref env) = env::var_os("DESKTOP_SESSION") {
-            DesktopEnv::Unknown(env.to_string_lossy().to_string())
-        } else {
-            DesktopEnv::Unknown("Unknown WASI".to_string())
-        }
+    fn desktop_env(self) -> Option<DesktopEnv> {
+        env::var_os("DESKTOP_SESSION")
+            .map(|env| DesktopEnv::Unknown(env.to_string_lossy().to_string()))
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
diff --git a/src/os/web.rs b/src/os/web.rs
index d92d430..57f7ac0 100644
--- a/src/os/web.rs
+++ b/src/os/web.rs
@@ -160,8 +160,8 @@ impl Target for Os {
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
-    fn desktop_env(self) -> DesktopEnv {
-        DesktopEnv::WebBrowser
+    fn desktop_env(self) -> Option<DesktopEnv> {
+        Some(DesktopEnv::WebBrowser)
     }
 
     fn platform(self) -> Platform {
diff --git a/src/os/windows.rs b/src/os/windows.rs
index 1412a4b..8c25237 100644
--- a/src/os/windows.rs
+++ b/src/os/windows.rs
@@ -385,8 +385,8 @@ impl Target for Os {
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]
-    fn desktop_env(self) -> DesktopEnv {
-        DesktopEnv::Windows
+    fn desktop_env(self) -> Option<DesktopEnv> {
+        Some(DesktopEnv::Windows)
     }
 
     #[inline(always)]