diff --git a/clients/window.c b/clients/window.c
index 56124e97..3abc2b0b 100644
--- a/clients/window.c
+++ b/clients/window.c
@@ -453,9 +453,9 @@ display_create_surface(struct display *display,
 		       struct rectangle *rectangle)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_CAIRO_GL
-	display_create_drm_surface(display, rectangle);
+	return display_create_drm_surface(display, rectangle);
 #else
-	display_create_shm_surface(display, rectangle);
+	return display_create_shm_surface(display, rectangle);
 #endif
 }
 
@@ -465,9 +465,9 @@ display_create_surface_from_file(struct display *display,
 				 struct rectangle *rectangle)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_CAIRO_GL
-	display_create_drm_surface_from_file(display, filename, rectangle);
+	return display_create_drm_surface_from_file(display, filename, rectangle);
 #else
-	display_create_shm_surface_from_file(display, filename, rectangle);
+	return display_create_shm_surface_from_file(display, filename, rectangle);
 #endif
 }