diff --git a/src/plugins/simulator/fsxcommon/fsxsettingscomponent.cpp b/src/plugins/simulator/fsxcommon/fsxsettingscomponent.cpp
index fc0eba789..4cf86d607 100644
--- a/src/plugins/simulator/fsxcommon/fsxsettingscomponent.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/simulator/fsxcommon/fsxsettingscomponent.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ namespace BlackSimPlugin
         void CFsxSettingsComponent::refresh()
         {
             const CSimulatorFsxCommon *fsxOrP3D = this->getFsxOrP3DSimulator();
+            const bool localSim = fsxOrP3D;
             if (fsxOrP3D)
             {
                 ui->cb_TraceSimConnectCalls->setChecked(fsxOrP3D->isTracingSendId());
@@ -77,6 +78,12 @@ namespace BlackSimPlugin
                 ui->cb_UseFsuipc->setChecked(fsxOrP3D->isFsuipcOpened());
             }
 
+            ui->lbl_NoLocalSimulator->setVisible(!localSim);
+            ui->cb_TraceSimConnectCalls->setEnabled(localSim);
+            ui->cb_EnableTerrainProbe->setEnabled(localSim);
+            ui->cb_SBOffsets->setEnabled(localSim);
+            ui->cb_UseFsuipc->setEnabled(localSim);
+
             const bool terrainProbe = CBuildConfig::isRunningOnWindowsNtPlatform() && (CBuildConfig::buildWordSize() == 32);
             ui->cb_EnableTerrainProbe->setEnabled(terrainProbe);
             ui->pb_CopyTerrainProbe->setVisible(terrainProbe);
@@ -134,10 +141,13 @@ namespace BlackSimPlugin
 
         CSimulatorFsxCommon *CFsxSettingsComponent::getFsxOrP3DSimulator() const
         {
-            if (!sGui || sGui->isShuttingDown() || !sGui->getIContextSimulator() || !sGui->getISimulator()) { return nullptr; }
+            if (!sGui || sGui->isShuttingDown() || !sGui->getIContextSimulator()) { return nullptr; }
             const CSimulatorPluginInfo plugin = sGui->getIContextSimulator()->getSimulatorPluginInfo();
             if (plugin.isEmulatedPlugin()) { return nullptr; } // cast would fail
 
+            // ISimulator can only be obtained in local environment, not distributed UI
+            if (!sGui->hasSimulator()) { return nullptr; }
+
             ISimulator *simulator = sGui->getISimulator().data();
             if (!simulator || simulator->isEmulatedDriver())     { return nullptr; }
             if (!simulator->getSimulatorInfo().isFsxP3DFamily()) { return nullptr; }
diff --git a/src/plugins/simulator/fsxcommon/fsxsettingscomponent.ui b/src/plugins/simulator/fsxcommon/fsxsettingscomponent.ui
index 9c88497db..e2d4f87d4 100644
--- a/src/plugins/simulator/fsxcommon/fsxsettingscomponent.ui
+++ b/src/plugins/simulator/fsxcommon/fsxsettingscomponent.ui
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
     <x>0</x>
     <y>0</y>
     <width>254</width>
-    <height>147</height>
+    <height>174</height>
    </rect>
   </property>
   <property name="windowTitle">
@@ -109,6 +109,16 @@
      </property>
     </widget>
    </item>
+   <item row="0" column="1">
+    <widget class="QLabel" name="lbl_NoLocalSimulator">
+     <property name="text">
+      <string>Looks like you are running a remote GUI, these settings only work locally. Use core settings.</string>
+     </property>
+     <property name="wordWrap">
+      <bool>true</bool>
+     </property>
+    </widget>
+   </item>
   </layout>
  </widget>
  <tabstops>