diff --git a/src/compositor.c b/src/compositor.c
index 87d19bd2..c790a8bc 100644
--- a/src/compositor.c
+++ b/src/compositor.c
@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ weston_surface_create(struct weston_compositor *compositor)
 	surface->compositor = compositor;
 	surface->image = EGL_NO_IMAGE_KHR;
 	surface->alpha = 255;
+	surface->pitch = 1;
 
 	surface->buffer = NULL;
 	surface->output = NULL;