diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4d29c5b..61a82a1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ The following are configuration options and their defaults.
 let g:lazygit_floating_window_winblend = 0 " transparency of floating window
 let g:lazygit_floating_window_scaling_factor = 0.9 " scaling factor for floating window
 let g:lazygit_floating_window_corner_chars = ['╭', '╮', '╰', '╯'] " customize lazygit popup window corner characters
-let g:lazygit_use_neovim_remote = 1 " for neovim-remote support
+let g:lazygit_use_neovim_remote = 1 " fallback to 0 if neovim-remote is not installed
 ```
 
 Call `:LazyGit` to start a floating window with `lazygit`.
diff --git a/plugin/lazygit.vim b/plugin/lazygit.vim
index 01514cd..7655ff4 100644
--- a/plugin/lazygit.vim
+++ b/plugin/lazygit.vim
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ if !exists('g:lazygit_floating_window_scaling_factor')
 endif
 
 if !exists('g:lazygit_use_neovim_remote')
-  let g:lazygit_use_neovim_remote = 1
+  let g:lazygit_use_neovim_remote = executable('nvr') ? 1 : 0
 endif
 
 if !exists('g:lazygit_floating_window_corner_chars')