diff --git a/clutter/clutter-text.c b/clutter/clutter-text.c
index 4b657d1da..d746279aa 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter-text.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter-text.c
@@ -1417,8 +1417,6 @@ clutter_text_class_init (ClutterTextClass *klass)
   ClutterBindingPool *binding_pool;
   GParamSpec *pspec;
 
-  _context = _clutter_context_create_pango_context (CLUTTER_CONTEXT ());
-
   g_type_class_add_private (klass, sizeof (ClutterTextPrivate));
 
   gobject_class->set_property = clutter_text_set_property;
@@ -1829,6 +1827,9 @@ clutter_text_init (ClutterText *self)
   ClutterTextPrivate *priv;
   int i;
 
+  if (G_UNLIKELY (_context == NULL))
+    _context = _clutter_context_create_pango_context (CLUTTER_CONTEXT ());
+
   self->priv = priv = CLUTTER_TEXT_GET_PRIVATE (self);
 
   priv->alignment     = PANGO_ALIGN_LEFT;