diff --git a/clients/desktop-shell.c b/clients/desktop-shell.c
index bde5dc82..42e7a6cf 100644
--- a/clients/desktop-shell.c
+++ b/clients/desktop-shell.c
@@ -849,7 +849,7 @@ background_configure(void *data,
 		return;
 	}
 
-	if (!background->image) {
+	if (!background->image && background->color) {
 		widget_set_viewport_destination(background->widget, width, height);
 		width = 1;
 		height = 1;