diff --git a/gtk/gtkcssstylefuncs.c b/gtk/gtkcssstylefuncs.c
index 21404bb243..00d932bbb9 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkcssstylefuncs.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkcssstylefuncs.c
@@ -898,11 +898,11 @@ shadow_value_parse (GtkCssParser *parser,
   GtkShadow *shadow;
   guint i;
 
-  shadow = _gtk_shadow_new ();
-
   if (_gtk_css_parser_try (parser, "none", TRUE))
     return TRUE;
 
+  shadow = _gtk_shadow_new ();
+
   do
     {
       have_inset = have_lengths = have_color = FALSE;