diff --git a/src/backends/meta-cursor-renderer.c b/src/backends/meta-cursor-renderer.c
index ca99c5d72..b20871ad8 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-cursor-renderer.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-cursor-renderer.c
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ static gboolean
 meta_cursor_renderer_real_update_cursor (MetaCursorRenderer *renderer,
                                          MetaCursorSprite   *cursor_sprite)
 {
+  if (cursor_sprite)
+    meta_cursor_sprite_realize_texture (cursor_sprite);
+
   return FALSE;
 }