diff --git a/src/render.c b/src/render.c
index e3af130..b0e5cea 100644
--- a/src/render.c
+++ b/src/render.c
@@ -817,6 +817,7 @@ void paint_all(session_t *ps, region_t *region, const region_t *region_real, win
 		if (!x_fence_sync(ps, ps->sync_fence)) {
 			log_error("x_fence_sync failed, xrender-sync-fence will be disabled from now on.");
 			xcb_sync_destroy_fence(ps->c, ps->sync_fence);
+			ps->sync_fence = XCB_NONE;
 			ps->o.xrender_sync_fence = false;
 		}
 	}