diff --git a/gsk/gl/gskglrenderops.c b/gsk/gl/gskglrenderops.c
index d06ecc5c8f..df3760d32e 100644
--- a/gsk/gl/gskglrenderops.c
+++ b/gsk/gl/gskglrenderops.c
@@ -339,12 +339,12 @@ ops_set_modelview_internal (RenderOpBuilder *builder,
   RenderOp op;
   graphene_matrix_t matrix;
 
-  gsk_transform_to_matrix (transform, &matrix);
-
   if (builder->current_program &&
       gsk_transform_equal (builder->current_program_state->modelview, transform))
     return;
 
+  gsk_transform_to_matrix (transform, &matrix);
+
   if (builder->render_ops->len > 0)
     {
       RenderOp *last_op = &g_array_index (builder->render_ops, RenderOp, builder->render_ops->len - 1);