diff --git a/gtk/gtkcssvalue.c b/gtk/gtkcssvalue.c
index 25554be6b3..87deca7545 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkcssvalue.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkcssvalue.c
@@ -140,6 +140,9 @@ _gtk_css_value_compute (GtkCssValue      *value,
                         GtkCssStyle      *style,
                         GtkCssStyle      *parent_style)
 {
+  if (gtk_css_value_is_computed (value))
+    return _gtk_css_value_ref (value);
+
   return value->class->compute (value, property_id, provider, style, parent_style);
 }