diff -up gnome-control-center-2.29.90/capplets/appearance/appearance-main.c.threads gnome-control-center-2.29.90/capplets/appearance/appearance-main.c
--- gnome-control-center-2.29.90/capplets/appearance/appearance-main.c.threads	2010-02-15 11:40:13.114272428 -0500
+++ gnome-control-center-2.29.90/capplets/appearance/appearance-main.c	2010-02-15 11:40:28.091014387 -0500
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ init_appearance_data (int *argc, char **
   GError *err = NULL;
 
   g_thread_init (NULL);
+  gdk_threads_init ();
   theme_thumbnail_factory_init (*argc, *argv);
   capplet_init (context, argc, argv);
   activate_settings_daemon ();
