diff --git a/widget/src/windows/nsWindow.cpp b/widget/src/windows/nsWindow.cpp
index 9f2f085a270..9bfee0e4ddf 100644
--- a/widget/src/windows/nsWindow.cpp
+++ b/widget/src/windows/nsWindow.cpp
@@ -5865,6 +5865,8 @@ PRBool nsWindow::OnPaint(HDC aDC)
 #ifdef MOZ_XUL
       nsRefPtr<gfxASurface> targetSurface;
       if (eTransparencyTransparent == mTransparencyMode) {
+        if (mTransparentSurface == nsnull)
+          SetupTranslucentWindowMemoryBitmap(mTransparencyMode);
         targetSurface = mTransparentSurface;
       } else {
         targetSurface = new gfxWindowsSurface(hDC);