diff --git a/src/picom.c b/src/picom.c
index 2219b1b..e4a47b8 100644
--- a/src/picom.c
+++ b/src/picom.c
@@ -898,9 +898,13 @@ void root_damaged(session_t *ps) {
 		if (pixmap != XCB_NONE) {
 			ps->root_image = ps->backend_data->ops->bind_pixmap(
 			    ps->backend_data, pixmap, x_get_visual_info(ps->c, ps->vis), false);
-			ps->backend_data->ops->set_image_property(
-			    ps->backend_data, IMAGE_PROPERTY_EFFECTIVE_SIZE,
-			    ps->root_image, (int[]){ps->root_width, ps->root_height});
+			if (ps->root_image) {
+				ps->backend_data->ops->set_image_property(
+				    ps->backend_data, IMAGE_PROPERTY_EFFECTIVE_SIZE,
+				    ps->root_image, (int[]){ps->root_width, ps->root_height});
+			} else {
+				log_error("Failed to bind root back pixmap");
+			}
 		}
 	}