diff --git a/examples/pointer.c b/examples/pointer.c
index 34f6c8965..000029212 100644
--- a/examples/pointer.c
+++ b/examples/pointer.c
@@ -395,13 +395,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 		image->width, image->height, image->hotspot_x, image->hotspot_y, 0);
 
 	clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &state.last_frame);
-	const char *socket = wl_display_add_socket_auto(display);
-	if (!socket) {
-		wlr_log_errno(L_ERROR, "Unable to open wayland socket");
-		wlr_backend_destroy(wlr);
-		exit(1);
-	}
-	setenv("_WAYLAND_DISPLAY", socket, true);
+
 	if (!wlr_backend_start(wlr)) {
 		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Failed to start backend");
 		wlr_backend_destroy(wlr);
diff --git a/examples/rotation.c b/examples/rotation.c
index a7bbbf323..618e91af6 100644
--- a/examples/rotation.c
+++ b/examples/rotation.c
@@ -248,13 +248,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	wl_signal_add(&wlr->events.new_input, &state.new_input);
 	state.new_input.notify = new_input_notify;
 	clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &state.last_frame);
-	const char *socket = wl_display_add_socket_auto(display);
-	if (!socket) {
-		wlr_log_errno(L_ERROR, "Unable to open wayland socket");
-		wlr_backend_destroy(wlr);
-		exit(1);
-	}
-	setenv("_WAYLAND_DISPLAY", socket, true);
 
 	state.renderer = wlr_backend_get_renderer(wlr);
 	if (!state.renderer) {
diff --git a/examples/simple.c b/examples/simple.c
index 7bf956018..0c58f9334 100644
--- a/examples/simple.c
+++ b/examples/simple.c
@@ -165,13 +165,7 @@ int main() {
 	wl_signal_add(&wlr->events.new_input, &state.new_input);
 	state.new_input.notify = new_input_notify;
 	clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &state.last_frame);
-	const char *socket = wl_display_add_socket_auto(display);
-	if (!socket) {
-		wlr_log_errno(L_ERROR, "Unable to open wayland socket");
-		wlr_backend_destroy(wlr);
-		exit(1);
-	}
-	setenv("_WAYLAND_DISPLAY", socket, true);
+
 	if (!wlr_backend_start(wlr)) {
 		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Failed to start backend");
 		wlr_backend_destroy(wlr);
diff --git a/examples/touch.c b/examples/touch.c
index 93905ffd1..1d56a9ff7 100644
--- a/examples/touch.c
+++ b/examples/touch.c
@@ -273,14 +273,6 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 		exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
 	}
 
-	const char *socket = wl_display_add_socket_auto(display);
-	if (!socket) {
-		wlr_log_errno(L_ERROR, "Unable to open wayland socket");
-		wlr_backend_destroy(wlr);
-		exit(1);
-	}
-	setenv("_WAYLAND_DISPLAY", socket, true);
-
 	if (!wlr_backend_start(wlr)) {
 		wlr_log(L_ERROR, "Failed to start backend");
 		wlr_backend_destroy(wlr);