diff --git a/gfx/layers/ipc/CompositorParent.cpp b/gfx/layers/ipc/CompositorParent.cpp
index 3f8d6a21bf6b..bfd4a0361a8b 100644
--- a/gfx/layers/ipc/CompositorParent.cpp
+++ b/gfx/layers/ipc/CompositorParent.cpp
@@ -697,12 +697,17 @@ CompositorParent::NotifyChildCreated(uint64_t aChild)
   sIndirectLayerTrees[aChild].mParent = this;
 }
 
+// Ensure all layer tree IDs are greater than zero, so if we
+// ever see a zero-valued layer tree id we know it's actually
+// uninitialized and/or garbage.
+uint64_t CompositorParent::ROOT_LAYER_TREE_ID = 1;
+
 /*static*/ uint64_t
 CompositorParent::AllocateLayerTreeId()
 {
   MOZ_ASSERT(CompositorLoop());
   MOZ_ASSERT(NS_IsMainThread());
-  static uint64_t ids;
+  static uint64_t ids = ROOT_LAYER_TREE_ID;
   return ++ids;
 }
 
diff --git a/gfx/layers/ipc/CompositorParent.h b/gfx/layers/ipc/CompositorParent.h
index 3b8612639d91..70ba9362428e 100644
--- a/gfx/layers/ipc/CompositorParent.h
+++ b/gfx/layers/ipc/CompositorParent.h
@@ -113,6 +113,11 @@ public:
    */
   static void ShutDown();
 
+  /**
+   * The reserved layer tree ID for the root of the layer tree.
+   */
+  static uint64_t ROOT_LAYER_TREE_ID;
+
   /**
    * Allocate an ID that can be used to refer to a layer tree and
    * associated resources that live only on the compositor thread.