diff --git a/cogl/cogl-clip-stack.c b/cogl/cogl-clip-stack.c
index 082d62358..ef0313be3 100644
--- a/cogl/cogl-clip-stack.c
+++ b/cogl/cogl-clip-stack.c
@@ -203,6 +203,14 @@ add_stencil_clip_rectangle (float x_1,
   /* temporarily swap in our special stenciling pipeline */
   cogl_push_source (ctx->stencil_pipeline);
 
+  /* This can be called from the journal code which doesn't flush
+     the matrix stacks between calls so we need to ensure they're
+     flushed now */
+  _cogl_matrix_stack_flush_to_gl (modelview_stack,
+                                  COGL_MATRIX_MODELVIEW);
+  _cogl_matrix_stack_flush_to_gl (projection_stack,
+                                  COGL_MATRIX_PROJECTION);
+
   if (first)
     {
       GE( glEnable (GL_STENCIL_TEST) );
@@ -215,14 +223,6 @@ add_stencil_clip_rectangle (float x_1,
       GE( glStencilFunc (GL_NEVER, 0x1, 0x1) );
       GE( glStencilOp (GL_REPLACE, GL_REPLACE, GL_REPLACE) );
 
-      /* This can be called from the journal code which doesn't flush
-         the matrix stacks between calls so we need to ensure they're
-         flushed now */
-      _cogl_matrix_stack_flush_to_gl (modelview_stack,
-                                      COGL_MATRIX_MODELVIEW);
-      _cogl_matrix_stack_flush_to_gl (projection_stack,
-                                      COGL_MATRIX_PROJECTION);
-
       _cogl_rectangle_immediate (x_1, y_1, x_2, y_2);
     }
   else