diff --git a/src/cairo-xcb-surface-render.c b/src/cairo-xcb-surface-render.c
index 8a6aa2809..7258c59db 100644
--- a/src/cairo-xcb-surface-render.c
+++ b/src/cairo-xcb-surface-render.c
@@ -300,8 +300,8 @@ _cairo_xcb_surface_clear_clip_region (cairo_xcb_surface_t *surface)
 static void
 _cairo_xcb_surface_ensure_picture (cairo_xcb_surface_t *surface)
 {
+    assert (surface->fallback == NULL);
     if (surface->picture == XCB_NONE) {
-	assert (surface->fallback == NULL);
 	surface->picture = _cairo_xcb_connection_get_xid (surface->connection);
 	_cairo_xcb_connection_render_create_picture (surface->connection,
 						     surface->picture,