diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 0744b9b5a8..dd9e585c39 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -249,6 +249,10 @@ path = "examples/app/return_after_run.rs"
 name = "thread_pool_resources"
 path = "examples/app/thread_pool_resources.rs"
 
+[[example]]
+name = "headless_defaults"
+path = "examples/app/headless_defaults.rs"
+
 [[example]]
 name = "without_winit"
 path = "examples/app/without_winit.rs"
diff --git a/crates/bevy_core_pipeline/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_core_pipeline/src/lib.rs
index 1ace533a02..88b06f93cb 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_core_pipeline/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_core_pipeline/src/lib.rs
@@ -95,7 +95,11 @@ impl Plugin for CorePipelinePlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         app.init_resource::<ClearColor>();
 
-        let render_app = app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp);
+        let render_app = match app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            Ok(render_app) => render_app,
+            Err(_) => return,
+        };
+
         render_app
             .init_resource::<DrawFunctions<Transparent2d>>()
             .init_resource::<DrawFunctions<Opaque3d>>()
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/lib.rs
index 78324f02bf..180093f9ba 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/lib.rs
@@ -138,7 +138,11 @@ impl Plugin for PbrPlugin {
                 },
             );
 
-        let render_app = app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp);
+        let render_app = match app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            Ok(render_app) => render_app,
+            Err(_) => return,
+        };
+
         render_app
             .add_system_to_stage(
                 RenderStage::Extract,
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs
index ab796439fc..3e8965aa28 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/render/mesh.rs
@@ -53,11 +53,13 @@ impl Plugin for MeshRenderPlugin {
 
         app.add_plugin(UniformComponentPlugin::<MeshUniform>::default());
 
-        app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp)
-            .init_resource::<MeshPipeline>()
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_meshes)
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_mesh_bind_group)
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_mesh_view_bind_groups);
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app
+                .init_resource::<MeshPipeline>()
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_meshes)
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_mesh_bind_group)
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_mesh_view_bind_groups);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/wireframe.rs b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/wireframe.rs
index 02b5d9dbee..9f1308179e 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_pbr/src/wireframe.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_pbr/src/wireframe.rs
@@ -31,13 +31,15 @@ impl Plugin for WireframePlugin {
 
         app.init_resource::<WireframeConfig>();
 
-        app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp)
-            .add_render_command::<Opaque3d, DrawWireframes>()
-            .init_resource::<WireframePipeline>()
-            .init_resource::<SpecializedPipelines<WireframePipeline>>()
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_wireframes)
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_wireframe_config)
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_wireframes);
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app
+                .add_render_command::<Opaque3d, DrawWireframes>()
+                .init_resource::<WireframePipeline>()
+                .init_resource::<SpecializedPipelines<WireframePipeline>>()
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_wireframes)
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_wireframe_config)
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_wireframes);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/camera/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/camera/mod.rs
index 20baece458..4df498f0bf 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/camera/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/camera/mod.rs
@@ -53,9 +53,11 @@ impl Plugin for CameraPlugin {
                 CoreStage::PostUpdate,
                 crate::camera::camera_system::<PerspectiveProjection>,
             );
-        app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp)
-            .init_resource::<ExtractedCameraNames>()
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_cameras);
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app
+                .init_resource::<ExtractedCameraNames>()
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_cameras);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/lib.rs
index 69ee3ff2e9..788dd9365b 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/lib.rs
@@ -113,174 +113,178 @@ impl Plugin for RenderPlugin {
             .get_resource::<options::WgpuOptions>()
             .cloned()
             .unwrap_or_default();
-        let instance = wgpu::Instance::new(options.backends);
-        let surface = {
-            let world = app.world.cell();
-            let windows = world.get_resource_mut::<bevy_window::Windows>().unwrap();
-            let raw_handle = windows.get_primary().map(|window| unsafe {
-                let handle = window.raw_window_handle().get_handle();
-                instance.create_surface(&handle)
-            });
-            raw_handle
-        };
-        let request_adapter_options = wgpu::RequestAdapterOptions {
-            power_preference: options.power_preference,
-            compatible_surface: surface.as_ref(),
-            ..Default::default()
-        };
-        let (device, queue) = futures_lite::future::block_on(renderer::initialize_renderer(
-            &instance,
-            &mut options,
-            &request_adapter_options,
-        ));
-        debug!("Configured wgpu adapter Limits: {:#?}", &options.limits);
-        debug!("Configured wgpu adapter Features: {:#?}", &options.features);
-        app.insert_resource(device.clone())
-            .insert_resource(queue.clone())
-            .insert_resource(options.clone())
-            .add_asset::<Shader>()
+
+        app.add_asset::<Shader>()
             .init_asset_loader::<ShaderLoader>()
-            .init_resource::<ScratchRenderWorld>()
-            .register_type::<Color>()
-            .register_type::<Frustum>()
-            .register_type::<CubemapFrusta>();
-        let render_pipeline_cache = RenderPipelineCache::new(device.clone());
-        let asset_server = app.world.get_resource::<AssetServer>().unwrap().clone();
+            .register_type::<Color>();
 
-        let mut render_app = App::empty();
-        let mut extract_stage =
-            SystemStage::parallel().with_system(RenderPipelineCache::extract_shaders);
-        // don't apply buffers when the stage finishes running
-        // extract stage runs on the app world, but the buffers are applied to the render world
-        extract_stage.set_apply_buffers(false);
-        render_app
-            .add_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_stage)
-            .add_stage(RenderStage::Prepare, SystemStage::parallel())
-            .add_stage(RenderStage::Queue, SystemStage::parallel())
-            .add_stage(RenderStage::PhaseSort, SystemStage::parallel())
-            .add_stage(
-                RenderStage::Render,
-                SystemStage::parallel()
-                    .with_system(RenderPipelineCache::process_pipeline_queue_system)
-                    .with_system(render_system.exclusive_system().at_end()),
-            )
-            .add_stage(RenderStage::Cleanup, SystemStage::parallel())
-            .insert_resource(instance)
-            .insert_resource(device)
-            .insert_resource(queue)
-            .insert_resource(options)
-            .insert_resource(render_pipeline_cache)
-            .insert_resource(asset_server)
-            .init_resource::<RenderGraph>();
+        if let Some(backends) = options.backends {
+            let instance = wgpu::Instance::new(backends);
+            let surface = {
+                let world = app.world.cell();
+                let windows = world.get_resource_mut::<bevy_window::Windows>().unwrap();
+                let raw_handle = windows.get_primary().map(|window| unsafe {
+                    let handle = window.raw_window_handle().get_handle();
+                    instance.create_surface(&handle)
+                });
+                raw_handle
+            };
+            let request_adapter_options = wgpu::RequestAdapterOptions {
+                power_preference: options.power_preference,
+                compatible_surface: surface.as_ref(),
+                ..Default::default()
+            };
+            let (device, queue) = futures_lite::future::block_on(renderer::initialize_renderer(
+                &instance,
+                &mut options,
+                &request_adapter_options,
+            ));
+            debug!("Configured wgpu adapter Limits: {:#?}", &options.limits);
+            debug!("Configured wgpu adapter Features: {:#?}", &options.features);
+            app.insert_resource(device.clone())
+                .insert_resource(queue.clone())
+                .insert_resource(options.clone())
+                .init_resource::<ScratchRenderWorld>()
+                .register_type::<Frustum>()
+                .register_type::<CubemapFrusta>();
+            let render_pipeline_cache = RenderPipelineCache::new(device.clone());
+            let asset_server = app.world.get_resource::<AssetServer>().unwrap().clone();
 
-        app.add_sub_app(RenderApp, render_app, move |app_world, render_app| {
-            #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-            let render_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("renderer subapp");
-            #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-            let _render_guard = render_span.enter();
-            {
+            let mut render_app = App::empty();
+            let mut extract_stage =
+                SystemStage::parallel().with_system(RenderPipelineCache::extract_shaders);
+            // don't apply buffers when the stage finishes running
+            // extract stage runs on the app world, but the buffers are applied to the render world
+            extract_stage.set_apply_buffers(false);
+            render_app
+                .add_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_stage)
+                .add_stage(RenderStage::Prepare, SystemStage::parallel())
+                .add_stage(RenderStage::Queue, SystemStage::parallel())
+                .add_stage(RenderStage::PhaseSort, SystemStage::parallel())
+                .add_stage(
+                    RenderStage::Render,
+                    SystemStage::parallel()
+                        .with_system(RenderPipelineCache::process_pipeline_queue_system)
+                        .with_system(render_system.exclusive_system().at_end()),
+                )
+                .add_stage(RenderStage::Cleanup, SystemStage::parallel())
+                .insert_resource(instance)
+                .insert_resource(device)
+                .insert_resource(queue)
+                .insert_resource(options)
+                .insert_resource(render_pipeline_cache)
+                .insert_resource(asset_server)
+                .init_resource::<RenderGraph>();
+
+            app.add_sub_app(RenderApp, render_app, move |app_world, render_app| {
                 #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let stage_span =
-                    bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "reserve_and_flush");
+                let render_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("renderer subapp");
                 #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
+                let _render_guard = render_span.enter();
+                {
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let stage_span =
+                        bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "reserve_and_flush");
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
 
-                // reserve all existing app entities for use in render_app
-                // they can only be spawned using `get_or_spawn()`
-                let meta_len = app_world.entities().meta.len();
-                render_app
-                    .world
-                    .entities()
-                    .reserve_entities(meta_len as u32);
+                    // reserve all existing app entities for use in render_app
+                    // they can only be spawned using `get_or_spawn()`
+                    let meta_len = app_world.entities().meta.len();
+                    render_app
+                        .world
+                        .entities()
+                        .reserve_entities(meta_len as u32);
 
-                // flushing as "invalid" ensures that app world entities aren't added as "empty archetype" entities by default
-                // these entities cannot be accessed without spawning directly onto them
-                // this _only_ works as expected because clear_entities() is called at the end of every frame.
-                render_app.world.entities_mut().flush_as_invalid();
-            }
+                    // flushing as "invalid" ensures that app world entities aren't added as "empty archetype" entities by default
+                    // these entities cannot be accessed without spawning directly onto them
+                    // this _only_ works as expected because clear_entities() is called at the end of every frame.
+                    render_app.world.entities_mut().flush_as_invalid();
+                }
 
-            {
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "extract");
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
+                {
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "extract");
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
 
-                // extract
-                extract(app_world, render_app);
-            }
+                    // extract
+                    extract(app_world, render_app);
+                }
 
-            {
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "prepare");
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
+                {
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "prepare");
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
 
-                // prepare
-                let prepare = render_app
-                    .schedule
-                    .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::Prepare)
-                    .unwrap();
-                prepare.run(&mut render_app.world);
-            }
+                    // prepare
+                    let prepare = render_app
+                        .schedule
+                        .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::Prepare)
+                        .unwrap();
+                    prepare.run(&mut render_app.world);
+                }
 
-            {
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "queue");
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
+                {
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "queue");
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
 
-                // queue
-                let queue = render_app
-                    .schedule
-                    .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::Queue)
-                    .unwrap();
-                queue.run(&mut render_app.world);
-            }
+                    // queue
+                    let queue = render_app
+                        .schedule
+                        .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::Queue)
+                        .unwrap();
+                    queue.run(&mut render_app.world);
+                }
 
-            {
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "sort");
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
+                {
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "sort");
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
 
-                // phase sort
-                let phase_sort = render_app
-                    .schedule
-                    .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::PhaseSort)
-                    .unwrap();
-                phase_sort.run(&mut render_app.world);
-            }
+                    // phase sort
+                    let phase_sort = render_app
+                        .schedule
+                        .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::PhaseSort)
+                        .unwrap();
+                    phase_sort.run(&mut render_app.world);
+                }
 
-            {
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "render");
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
+                {
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "render");
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
 
-                // render
-                let render = render_app
-                    .schedule
-                    .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::Render)
-                    .unwrap();
-                render.run(&mut render_app.world);
-            }
+                    // render
+                    let render = render_app
+                        .schedule
+                        .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::Render)
+                        .unwrap();
+                    render.run(&mut render_app.world);
+                }
 
-            {
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "cleanup");
-                #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
-                let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
+                {
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let stage_span = bevy_utils::tracing::info_span!("stage", name = "cleanup");
+                    #[cfg(feature = "trace")]
+                    let _stage_guard = stage_span.enter();
 
-                // cleanup
-                let cleanup = render_app
-                    .schedule
-                    .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::Cleanup)
-                    .unwrap();
-                cleanup.run(&mut render_app.world);
+                    // cleanup
+                    let cleanup = render_app
+                        .schedule
+                        .get_stage_mut::<SystemStage>(&RenderStage::Cleanup)
+                        .unwrap();
+                    cleanup.run(&mut render_app.world);
 
-                render_app.world.clear_entities();
-            }
-        });
+                    render_app.world.clear_entities();
+                }
+            });
+        }
 
         app.add_plugin(WindowRenderPlugin)
             .add_plugin(CameraPlugin)
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/options.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/options.rs
index 294582af2c..2211cf9530 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/options.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/options.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pub enum WgpuOptionsPriority {
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct WgpuOptions {
     pub device_label: Option<Cow<'static, str>>,
-    pub backends: Backends,
+    pub backends: Option<Backends>,
     pub power_preference: PowerPreference,
     pub priority: WgpuOptionsPriority,
     pub features: WgpuFeatures,
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ impl Default for WgpuOptions {
             Backends::PRIMARY
         };
 
-        let backends = wgpu::util::backend_bits_from_env().unwrap_or(default_backends);
+        let backends = Some(wgpu::util::backend_bits_from_env().unwrap_or(default_backends));
 
         let priority = options_priority_from_env().unwrap_or(WgpuOptionsPriority::Functionality);
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/render_asset.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/render_asset.rs
index 021a338a77..5c43cd7dcc 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/render_asset.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/render_asset.rs
@@ -54,14 +54,15 @@ impl<A: RenderAsset> Default for RenderAssetPlugin<A> {
 
 impl<A: RenderAsset> Plugin for RenderAssetPlugin<A> {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
-        let render_app = app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp);
-        let prepare_asset_system = PrepareAssetSystem::<A>::system(&mut render_app.world);
-        render_app
-            .init_resource::<ExtractedAssets<A>>()
-            .init_resource::<RenderAssets<A>>()
-            .init_resource::<PrepareNextFrameAssets<A>>()
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_render_asset::<A>)
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Prepare, prepare_asset_system);
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            let prepare_asset_system = PrepareAssetSystem::<A>::system(&mut render_app.world);
+            render_app
+                .init_resource::<ExtractedAssets<A>>()
+                .init_resource::<RenderAssets<A>>()
+                .init_resource::<PrepareNextFrameAssets<A>>()
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_render_asset::<A>)
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Prepare, prepare_asset_system);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/render_component.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/render_component.rs
index 1296c921b1..35774683f7 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/render_component.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/render_component.rs
@@ -62,12 +62,14 @@ impl<C> Default for UniformComponentPlugin<C> {
 
 impl<C: Component + AsStd140 + Clone> Plugin for UniformComponentPlugin<C> {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
-        app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp)
-            .insert_resource(ComponentUniforms::<C>::default())
-            .add_system_to_stage(
-                RenderStage::Prepare,
-                prepare_uniform_components::<C>.system(),
-            );
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app
+                .insert_resource(ComponentUniforms::<C>::default())
+                .add_system_to_stage(
+                    RenderStage::Prepare,
+                    prepare_uniform_components::<C>.system(),
+                );
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -144,8 +146,9 @@ where
 {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         let system = ExtractComponentSystem::<C>::system(&mut app.world);
-        let render_app = app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp);
-        render_app.add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, system);
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app.add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, system);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/texture/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/texture/mod.rs
index cb586af04e..e6658195bf 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/texture/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/texture/mod.rs
@@ -35,9 +35,11 @@ impl Plugin for ImagePlugin {
             .unwrap()
             .set_untracked(DEFAULT_IMAGE_HANDLE, Image::default());
 
-        app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp)
-            .init_resource::<TextureCache>()
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Cleanup, update_texture_cache_system);
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app
+                .init_resource::<TextureCache>()
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Cleanup, update_texture_cache_system);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/view/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/view/mod.rs
index 9914c6fa16..8711c73723 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/view/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/view/mod.rs
@@ -26,14 +26,16 @@ impl Plugin for ViewPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
         app.init_resource::<Msaa>().add_plugin(VisibilityPlugin);
 
-        app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp)
-            .init_resource::<ViewUniforms>()
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_msaa)
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Prepare, prepare_view_uniforms)
-            .add_system_to_stage(
-                RenderStage::Prepare,
-                prepare_view_targets.after(WindowSystem::Prepare),
-            );
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app
+                .init_resource::<ViewUniforms>()
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_msaa)
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Prepare, prepare_view_uniforms)
+                .add_system_to_stage(
+                    RenderStage::Prepare,
+                    prepare_view_targets.after(WindowSystem::Prepare),
+                );
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_render/src/view/window.rs b/crates/bevy_render/src/view/window.rs
index ac7ac18a2c..94bf8a21c0 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_render/src/view/window.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_render/src/view/window.rs
@@ -24,15 +24,17 @@ pub enum WindowSystem {
 
 impl Plugin for WindowRenderPlugin {
     fn build(&self, app: &mut App) {
-        app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp)
-            .init_resource::<ExtractedWindows>()
-            .init_resource::<WindowSurfaces>()
-            .init_resource::<NonSendMarker>()
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_windows)
-            .add_system_to_stage(
-                RenderStage::Prepare,
-                prepare_windows.label(WindowSystem::Prepare),
-            );
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app
+                .init_resource::<ExtractedWindows>()
+                .init_resource::<WindowSurfaces>()
+                .init_resource::<NonSendMarker>()
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_windows)
+                .add_system_to_stage(
+                    RenderStage::Prepare,
+                    prepare_windows.label(WindowSystem::Prepare),
+                );
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/lib.rs
index bad4870208..eb70848f04 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/lib.rs
@@ -59,20 +59,22 @@ impl Plugin for SpritePlugin {
             .register_type::<Sprite>()
             .add_plugin(Mesh2dRenderPlugin)
             .add_plugin(ColorMaterialPlugin);
-        let render_app = app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp);
-        render_app
-            .init_resource::<ImageBindGroups>()
-            .init_resource::<SpritePipeline>()
-            .init_resource::<SpecializedPipelines<SpritePipeline>>()
-            .init_resource::<SpriteMeta>()
-            .init_resource::<ExtractedSprites>()
-            .init_resource::<SpriteAssetEvents>()
-            .add_render_command::<Transparent2d, DrawSprite>()
-            .add_system_to_stage(
-                RenderStage::Extract,
-                render::extract_sprites.label(SpriteSystem::ExtractSprites),
-            )
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, render::extract_sprite_events)
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_sprites);
+
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app
+                .init_resource::<ImageBindGroups>()
+                .init_resource::<SpritePipeline>()
+                .init_resource::<SpecializedPipelines<SpritePipeline>>()
+                .init_resource::<SpriteMeta>()
+                .init_resource::<ExtractedSprites>()
+                .init_resource::<SpriteAssetEvents>()
+                .add_render_command::<Transparent2d, DrawSprite>()
+                .add_system_to_stage(
+                    RenderStage::Extract,
+                    render::extract_sprites.label(SpriteSystem::ExtractSprites),
+                )
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, render::extract_sprite_events)
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_sprites);
+        };
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/mesh.rs b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/mesh.rs
index 2b3177f705..7468990b47 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/mesh.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_sprite/src/mesh2d/mesh.rs
@@ -61,12 +61,14 @@ impl Plugin for Mesh2dRenderPlugin {
 
         app.add_plugin(UniformComponentPlugin::<Mesh2dUniform>::default());
 
-        app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp)
-            .init_resource::<Mesh2dPipeline>()
-            .init_resource::<SpecializedPipelines<Mesh2dPipeline>>()
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_mesh2d)
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_mesh2d_bind_group)
-            .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_mesh2d_view_bind_groups);
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app
+                .init_resource::<Mesh2dPipeline>()
+                .init_resource::<SpecializedPipelines<Mesh2dPipeline>>()
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Extract, extract_mesh2d)
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_mesh2d_bind_group)
+                .add_system_to_stage(RenderStage::Queue, queue_mesh2d_view_bind_groups);
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs b/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs
index 3eb062f44e..6ed6009ad7 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_text/src/lib.rs
@@ -48,10 +48,11 @@ impl Plugin for TextPlugin {
             .insert_resource(DefaultTextPipeline::default())
             .add_system_to_stage(CoreStage::PostUpdate, text2d_system);
 
-        let render_app = app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp);
-        render_app.add_system_to_stage(
-            RenderStage::Extract,
-            extract_text2d_sprite.after(SpriteSystem::ExtractSprites),
-        );
+        if let Ok(render_app) = app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+            render_app.add_system_to_stage(
+                RenderStage::Extract,
+                extract_text2d_sprite.after(SpriteSystem::ExtractSprites),
+            );
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs b/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs
index e063cd4504..e632b4eee1 100644
--- a/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/bevy_ui/src/render/mod.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,11 @@ pub fn build_ui_render(app: &mut App) {
     let mut active_cameras = app.world.get_resource_mut::<ActiveCameras>().unwrap();
     active_cameras.add(CAMERA_UI);
 
-    let render_app = app.sub_app_mut(RenderApp);
+    let render_app = match app.get_sub_app_mut(RenderApp) {
+        Ok(render_app) => render_app,
+        Err(_) => return,
+    };
+
     render_app
         .init_resource::<UiPipeline>()
         .init_resource::<SpecializedPipelines<UiPipeline>>()
diff --git a/examples/README.md b/examples/README.md
index c540e58af7..81190f5886 100644
--- a/examples/README.md
+++ b/examples/README.md
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ Example | File | Description
 `empty` | [`app/empty.rs`](./app/empty.rs) | An empty application (does nothing)
 `empty_defaults` | [`app/empty_defaults.rs`](./app/empty_defaults.rs) | An empty application with default plugins
 `headless` | [`app/headless.rs`](./app/headless.rs) | An application that runs without default plugins
+`headless_defaults` | [`app/headless_defaults.rs`](./app/headless_defaults.rs) | An application that runs with default plugins, but without an actual renderer
 `logs` | [`app/logs.rs`](./app/logs.rs) | Illustrate how to use generate log output
 `plugin` | [`app/plugin.rs`](./app/plugin.rs) | Demonstrates the creation and registration of a custom plugin
 `plugin_group` | [`app/plugin_group.rs`](./app/plugin_group.rs) | Demonstrates the creation and registration of a custom plugin group
diff --git a/examples/app/headless_defaults.rs b/examples/app/headless_defaults.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e3836be9f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/app/headless_defaults.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+use bevy::{prelude::*, render::options::WgpuOptions};
+
+fn main() {
+    App::new()
+        .insert_resource(WgpuOptions {
+            backends: None,
+            ..Default::default()
+        })
+        .add_plugins(DefaultPlugins)
+        .run();
+}