diff --git a/src/xpra/server/server_core.py b/src/xpra/server/server_core.py
index ae57ebe469..59c2c3c51c 100644
--- a/src/xpra/server/server_core.py
+++ b/src/xpra/server/server_core.py
@@ -476,10 +476,17 @@ def print_run_info(self):
                 log.info(" uid=%i, gid=%i", uid, gid)
         log.info(" running with pid %s%s", os.getpid(), osinfo)
 
+    def get_display_bit_depth(self):
+        return 0
+
     def print_screen_info(self):
         display = os.environ.get("DISPLAY")
         if display and display.startswith(":"):
-            log.info(" connected to X11 display %s", display)
+            extra = ""
+            bit_depth = self.get_display_bit_depth()
+            if bit_depth:
+                extra = " with %i bit colors" % bit_depth
+            log.info(" connected to X11 display %s%s", display, extra)
 
 
     def server_is_ready(self):
diff --git a/src/xpra/x11/x11_server_base.py b/src/xpra/x11/x11_server_base.py
index 399378a90e..c177d193b6 100644
--- a/src/xpra/x11/x11_server_base.py
+++ b/src/xpra/x11/x11_server_base.py
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@
 X11Keyboard = X11KeyboardBindings()
 from xpra.x11.bindings.core_bindings import X11CoreBindings #@UnresolvedImport
 X11Core = X11CoreBindings()
+from xpra.x11.bindings.window_bindings import X11WindowBindings
+X11Window = X11WindowBindings()
 from xpra.gtk_common.error import XError, xswallow, xsync, trap
 from xpra.gtk_common.gtk_util import get_xwindow
 from xpra.server.server_uuid import save_uuid, get_uuid
@@ -140,6 +142,11 @@ def get_default_cursor():
         trap.swallow_synced(get_default_cursor)
         X11Keyboard.selectCursorChange(True)
 
+    def get_display_bit_depth(self):
+        with xswallow:
+            return X11Window.get_depth(X11Window.getDefaultRootWindow())
+        return 0
+
     def query_opengl(self):
         self.opengl_props = {}
         try: