diff --git a/cogl/cogl.c b/cogl/cogl.c
index 1b2e9c46a..21e5572e8 100644
--- a/cogl/cogl.c
+++ b/cogl/cogl.c
@@ -820,6 +820,10 @@ cogl_read_pixels (int x,
   if (!cogl_is_offscreen (draw_buffer))
     y = draw_buffer_height - y - height;
 
+  /* make sure any batched primitives get emitted to the GL driver before
+   * issuing our read pixels... */
+  cogl_flush ();
+
   /* Setup the pixel store parameters that may have been changed by
      Cogl */
   glPixelStorei (GL_PACK_ALIGNMENT, 4);
@@ -829,10 +833,6 @@ cogl_read_pixels (int x,
   glPixelStorei (GL_PACK_SKIP_ROWS, 0);
 #endif /* HAVE_COGL_GL */
 
-  /* make sure any batched primitives get emitted to the GL driver before
-   * issuing our read pixels... */
-  cogl_flush ();
-
   glReadPixels (x, y, width, height, GL_RGBA, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, pixels);
 
   /* NB: All offscreen rendering is done upside down so there is no need