diff --git a/src/wayland/meta-xwayland.c b/src/wayland/meta-xwayland.c
index f0b95351d..f21b16de6 100644
--- a/src/wayland/meta-xwayland.c
+++ b/src/wayland/meta-xwayland.c
@@ -67,6 +67,16 @@ meta_xwayland_associate_window_with_surface (MetaWindow          *window,
 {
   MetaDisplay *display = window->display;
 
+  /* If the window has an existing surface, like if we're
+   * undecorating or decorating the window, then we need
+   * to detach the window from its old surface.
+   */
+  if (window->surface)
+    {
+      meta_wayland_surface_set_window (window->surface, NULL);
+      window->surface = NULL;
+    }
+
   if (!meta_wayland_surface_assign_role (surface,
                                          META_TYPE_WAYLAND_SURFACE_ROLE_XWAYLAND,
                                          NULL))
@@ -97,16 +107,6 @@ associate_window_with_surface_id (MetaXWaylandManager *manager,
 {
   struct wl_resource *resource;
 
-  /* If the window has an existing surface, like if we're
-   * undecorating or decorating the window, then we need
-   * to detach the window from its old surface.
-   */
-  if (window->surface)
-    {
-      meta_wayland_surface_set_window (window->surface, NULL);
-      window->surface = NULL;
-    }
-
   resource = wl_client_get_object (manager->client, surface_id);
   if (resource)
     {