diff --git a/src/modules/graphics.lua b/src/modules/graphics.lua
index fa5e443..27cfe7c 100644
--- a/src/modules/graphics.lua
+++ b/src/modules/graphics.lua
@@ -52,8 +52,14 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
       vid_utilization = 0
    }
 
+   local runtime_status_file = config.dev_power..'/runtime_status'
+
+   local want_nvidia_query = config.show_temp or config.show_clock
+      or config.gpu_util or config.mem_util or config.vid_util
+
    local update_state = function()
-      if i_o.read_file(config.dev_power, nil, '*l') == 'on' then
+      local is_active = i_o.read_file(runtime_status_file, nil, '*l') == 'active'
+      if is_active and want_nvidia_query then
          local nvidia_settings_glob = i_o.execute_cmd(NV_QUERY)
          if nvidia_settings_glob == nil then
             mod_state.error = 'Error'
@@ -68,6 +74,8 @@ return function(update_freq, config, common, width, point)
                = __string_match(nvidia_settings_glob, NV_REGEX)
             mod_state.error = false
          end
+      elseif is_active then
+         mod_state.error = false
       else
          mod_state.error = 'Off'
       end