diff --git a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
index 92225cb6d..9fdad3eb9 100644
--- a/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
+++ b/src/wayland/meta-wayland-surface.c
@@ -580,7 +580,10 @@ 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;
         }
     }
 }