diff --git a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
index c0cef357a..0142e1a3d 100644
--- a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
+++ b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
@@ -573,7 +573,10 @@ meta_wayland_surface_is_effectively_synchronized (MetaWaylandSurface *surface)
         {
           MetaWaylandSurface *parent = surface->sub.parent;
 
-          return meta_wayland_surface_is_effectively_synchronized (parent);
+          if (parent)
+            return meta_wayland_surface_is_effectively_synchronized (parent);
+
+          return TRUE;
         }
     }
 }