diff --git a/cecdaemon/remote.py b/cecdaemon/remote.py
index 49304cb..5fa4513 100644
--- a/cecdaemon/remote.py
+++ b/cecdaemon/remote.py
@@ -41,7 +41,12 @@ def __init__(self, cec=None, keymap=None):
         #pylint: disable=W0612
         for key, value in self.keymap.items():
             devicekeys.append(getattr(uinput, value))
-        self.device = uinput.Device(devicekeys)
+
+        # Avoid initializing uinput if the user doesn't need it (it can
+        # require special permissions the user may not even have).
+        if len(devicekeys) > 0:
+            self.device = uinput.Device(devicekeys)
+
         logging.info('Remote initialized')
 
     def eventrouter(self, event, key, state):