diff --git a/dix/gc.c b/dix/gc.c
index e47422c9e..827dfba32 100644
--- a/dix/gc.c
+++ b/dix/gc.c
@@ -813,7 +813,8 @@ CreateScratchGC(ScreenPtr pScreen, unsigned depth)
         FreeGC(pGC, (XID) 0);
         pGC = (GCPtr) NULL;
     }
-    pGC->graphicsExposures = FALSE;
+    else
+        pGC->graphicsExposures = FALSE;
     return pGC;
 }