diff --git a/cogl-pango/cogl-pango-glyph-cache.c b/cogl-pango/cogl-pango-glyph-cache.c
index 317d82679..5ddb4acdd 100644
--- a/cogl-pango/cogl-pango-glyph-cache.c
+++ b/cogl-pango/cogl-pango-glyph-cache.c
@@ -129,6 +129,8 @@ cogl_pango_glyph_cache_new (gboolean use_mipmapping)
 
   cache->has_dirty_glyphs = FALSE;
 
+  cache->using_global_atlas = FALSE;
+
   cache->use_mipmapping = use_mipmapping;
 
   return cache;