diff --git a/src/st/st-icon.c b/src/st/st-icon.c
index 49cdfec48..71ba1b6b3 100644
--- a/src/st/st-icon.c
+++ b/src/st/st-icon.c
@@ -487,8 +487,6 @@ st_icon_update (StIcon *icon)
       return;
     }
 
-  resource_scale = clutter_actor_get_resource_scale (CLUTTER_ACTOR (icon));
-
   theme_node = st_widget_peek_theme_node (ST_WIDGET (icon));
   if (theme_node == NULL)
     return;
@@ -496,6 +494,8 @@ st_icon_update (StIcon *icon)
   if (priv->icon_size <= 0)
     return;
 
+  resource_scale = clutter_actor_get_resource_scale (CLUTTER_ACTOR (icon));
+
   stage = clutter_actor_get_stage (CLUTTER_ACTOR (icon));
   context = st_theme_context_get_for_stage (CLUTTER_STAGE (stage));
   g_object_get (context, "scale-factor", &paint_scale, NULL);