diff --git a/src/damaris/gui/DamarisGUI.py b/src/damaris/gui/DamarisGUI.py
index 2b4cc15..7fbc8b9 100644
--- a/src/damaris/gui/DamarisGUI.py
+++ b/src/damaris/gui/DamarisGUI.py
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ from gi.repository import Gdk as gdk
 
 from gi.repository import GtkSource as gtksourceview
 
+# referencing the class registers the GtkSourceView GType, which GtkBuilder
+# needs to resolve the type when loading damaris3.glade
+_ = gtksourceview.View
+
 from gi.repository import Pango as pango
 
 # array math