diff --git a/src/st/st-icon.c b/src/st/st-icon.c
index 192df60b4..fed69746a 100644
--- a/src/st/st-icon.c
+++ b/src/st/st-icon.c
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ st_icon_paint (ClutterActor *actor)
 
   if (priv->icon_texture)
     {
-      if (priv->shadow_pipeline)
+      if (priv->shadow_spec && priv->shadow_pipeline)
         {
           ClutterActorBox allocation;
           float width, height;