--- rxvt-unicode/src/rxvtperl.xs	2012/06/07 17:21:56	1.184
+++ rxvt-unicode/src/rxvtperl.xs	2012/06/07 17:30:33	1.185
@@ -2100,6 +2100,12 @@
           {
             img = img->clone (); // own the img
 
+            {
+              rxvt_img *img2 = img->convert_format (XRenderFindVisualFormat (THIS->dpy, THIS->visual), THIS->pix_colors [Color_bg]);
+              delete img;
+              img = img2;
+            }
+
             if (img->repeat != RepeatNormal) // X11 only supports RepeatNormal as bg pixmap
               {
                 rxvt_img *img2 = img->sub_rect (0, 0,
@@ -2110,12 +2116,6 @@
               }
 
             {
-              rxvt_img *img2 = img->convert_format (XRenderFindVisualFormat (THIS->dpy, THIS->visual), THIS->pix_colors [Color_bg]);
-              delete img;
-              img = img2;
-            }
-
-            {
               // just in case, should usually be a nop
               rxvt_img *img2 = img->reify ();
               delete img;