diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.c b/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.c
index d90645929..aa5c183e5 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-backend-native.c
@@ -184,12 +184,16 @@ meta_backend_native_post_init (MetaBackend *backend)
   MetaBackendNative *backend_native = META_BACKEND_NATIVE (backend);
   MetaBackendNativePrivate *priv =
     meta_backend_native_get_instance_private (backend_native);
+  MetaMonitorManager *monitor_manager =
+    meta_backend_get_monitor_manager (backend);
 
   META_BACKEND_CLASS (meta_backend_native_parent_class)->post_init (backend);
 
   g_clear_pointer (&priv->startup_render_devices,
                    g_hash_table_unref);
 
+  g_signal_connect_swapped (monitor_manager, "monitors-changed-internal",
+                            G_CALLBACK (update_viewports), backend);
   update_viewports (backend);
 }
 
@@ -217,9 +221,6 @@ meta_backend_native_create_monitor_manager (MetaBackend *backend,
   if (!manager)
     return NULL;
 
-  g_signal_connect_swapped (manager, "monitors-changed-internal",
-                            G_CALLBACK (update_viewports), backend);
-
   return manager;
 }