diff --git a/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/drawing.py b/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/drawing.py
index 5b969b102f..c43aa9e73e 100644
--- a/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/drawing.py
+++ b/src/bonsai/bonsai/tool/drawing.py
@@ -2440,13 +2440,13 @@ class Drawing(bonsai.core.tool.Drawing):
     @classmethod
     def is_drawing_active(cls) -> bool:
         camera = bpy.context.scene.camera
-        area = tool.Blender.get_view3d_area()
-        return bool(
-            camera is not None
-            and camera.type == "CAMERA"
-            and tool.Blender.get_ifc_definition_id(camera)
-            and area is not None
-        )
+        if not (camera is not None and camera.type == "CAMERA" and tool.Blender.get_ifc_definition_id(camera)):
+            return False
+        # A VIEW_3D area is meaningless (and unobtainable) in background
+        # mode, but isn't otherwise required to generate a drawing.
+        if bpy.app.background:
+            return True
+        return tool.Blender.get_view3d_area() is not None
 
     @classmethod
     def is_camera_orthographic(cls) -> bool:
diff --git a/src/bonsai/test/tool/test_drawing.py b/src/bonsai/test/tool/test_drawing.py
index 57ac52424f..9d69fe51f6 100644
--- a/src/bonsai/test/tool/test_drawing.py
+++ b/src/bonsai/test/tool/test_drawing.py
@@ -1038,3 +1038,27 @@ class TestAddReferenceImage(NewFile):
 
         uv_node = material_nodes["Texture Coordinate"]
         assert len(uv_node.outputs["Generated"].links[:]) == 1
+
+
+class TestIsDrawingActive(NewFile):
+    def test_no_active_camera(self):
+        bpy.context.scene.camera = None
+        assert subject.is_drawing_active() is False
+
+    def test_active_camera_without_ifc_definition(self):
+        bpy.context.scene.camera = subject.create_camera("Camera", mathutils.Matrix(), "PERSPECTIVE", "PLAN_VIEW")
+        assert subject.is_drawing_active() is False
+
+    def test_ifc_linked_camera_in_background_mode(self):
+        ifc = ifcopenshell.file()
+        tool.Ifc.set(ifc)
+        camera_obj = subject.create_camera("Camera", mathutils.Matrix(), "PERSPECTIVE", "PLAN_VIEW")
+        drawing = ifc.createIfcAnnotation(ObjectType="DRAWING")
+        tool.Ifc.link(drawing, camera_obj)
+        bpy.context.scene.camera = camera_obj
+
+        # The test suite itself runs Blender in background mode, where no
+        # VIEW_3D area can ever exist -- this is exactly the case the fix
+        # addresses, so this assertion documents that assumption.
+        assert bpy.app.background is True
+        assert subject.is_drawing_active() is True