diff --git a/clutter/gdk/clutter-stage-gdk.c b/clutter/gdk/clutter-stage-gdk.c
index 05c6fe354..3ab4b1e78 100644
--- a/clutter/gdk/clutter-stage-gdk.c
+++ b/clutter/gdk/clutter-stage-gdk.c
@@ -288,6 +288,7 @@ clutter_stage_gdk_realize (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window)
         }
 
       clutter_stage_gdk_set_gdk_geometry (stage_gdk);
+      gdk_window_ensure_native (stage_gdk->window);
     }
   else
     {
@@ -295,8 +296,6 @@ clutter_stage_gdk_realize (ClutterStageWindow *stage_window)
       height = gdk_window_get_height (stage_gdk->window);
     }
 
-  gdk_window_ensure_native (stage_gdk->window);
-
   g_object_set_data (G_OBJECT (stage_gdk->window), "clutter-stage-window", stage_gdk);
 
   stage_cogl->onscreen = cogl_onscreen_new (backend->cogl_context,