diff --git a/gfx/layers/client/TextureClient.cpp b/gfx/layers/client/TextureClient.cpp
index 810442822aa4..94a1b559a8a3 100644
--- a/gfx/layers/client/TextureClient.cpp
+++ b/gfx/layers/client/TextureClient.cpp
@@ -1117,6 +1117,8 @@ TextureClient::CreateFromSurface(TextureForwarder* aAllocator,
 {
   aAllocator = aAllocator->AsTextureForwarder();
 
+  gfx::BackendType moz2DBackend = BackendTypeForBackendSelector(aLayersBackend, aSelector);
+
   // also test the validity of aAllocator
   MOZ_ASSERT(aAllocator && aAllocator->IPCOpen());
   if (!aAllocator || !aAllocator->IPCOpen()) {
@@ -1131,8 +1133,6 @@ TextureClient::CreateFromSurface(TextureForwarder* aAllocator,
 
   TextureData* data = nullptr;
 #if defined(XP_WIN)
-  gfx::BackendType moz2DBackend = BackendTypeForBackendSelector(aLayersBackend, aSelector);
-
   int32_t maxTextureSize = aAllocator->GetMaxTextureSize();
 
   if (aLayersBackend == LayersBackend::LAYERS_D3D11 &&