diff --git a/composite/compinit.c b/composite/compinit.c
index 64314640fe..3c910914e1 100644
--- a/composite/compinit.c
+++ b/composite/compinit.c
@@ -117,11 +117,11 @@ compChangeWindowAttributes(WindowPtr pWin, unsigned long mask)
 
     if (ret && (mask & CWBackingStore) &&
         pScreen->backingStoreSupport != NotUseful) {
-        if (pWin->backingStore != NotUseful) {
+        if (pWin->backingStore != NotUseful && !pWin->backStorage) {
             compRedirectWindow(serverClient, pWin, CompositeRedirectAutomatic);
             pWin->backStorage = (pointer) (intptr_t) 1;
         }
-        else {
+        else if (pWin->backingStore == NotUseful && pWin->backStorage) {
             compUnredirectWindow(serverClient, pWin,
                                  CompositeRedirectAutomatic);
             pWin->backStorage = NULL;