diff --git a/src/cairo-directfb-surface.c b/src/cairo-directfb-surface.c
index 279aef74a..c20dc83ab 100644
--- a/src/cairo-directfb-surface.c
+++ b/src/cairo-directfb-surface.c
@@ -1442,6 +1442,8 @@ _cairo_directfb_surface_set_clip_region (void           *abstract_surface,
         int              i;
 
         status = _cairo_region_get_boxes (region, &n_boxes, &boxes);
+        if (n_boxes == 0)
+            return CAIRO_STATUS_SUCCESS;
         if (status)
             return status;