diff --git a/libweston/backend-pipewire/pipewire.c b/libweston/backend-pipewire/pipewire.c
index 56d5af5b..5d17892b 100644
--- a/libweston/backend-pipewire/pipewire.c
+++ b/libweston/backend-pipewire/pipewire.c
@@ -735,11 +735,11 @@ pipewire_output_repaint(struct weston_output *base)
 
 	assert(output);
 
+	pixman_region32_init(&damage);
+
 	if (pw_stream_get_state(output->stream, NULL) != PW_STREAM_STATE_STREAMING)
 		goto out;
 
-	pixman_region32_init(&damage);
-
 	weston_output_flush_damage_for_primary_plane(base, &damage);
 
 	if (!pixman_region32_not_empty(&damage))