diff --git a/src/compton.c b/src/compton.c
index aa09d2d..0f99106 100644
--- a/src/compton.c
+++ b/src/compton.c
@@ -804,10 +804,9 @@ restack_win(session_t *ps, win *w, xcb_window_t new_above) {
 /// Handle configure event of a root window
 void configure_root(session_t *ps, int width, int height) {
   // On root window changes
-  auto bi = backend_list[ps->o.backend];
+  bool has_root_change = ps->backend_data->ops->root_change != NULL;
   if (ps->o.experimental_backends) {
-    assert(bi);
-    if (!ps->backend_data->ops->root_change) {
+    if (!has_root_change) {
       // deinit/reinit backend if the backend cannot handle root change
       ps->backend_data->ops->deinit(ps->backend_data);
       ps->backend_data = NULL;
@@ -836,7 +835,7 @@ void configure_root(session_t *ps, int width, int height) {
     glx_on_root_change(ps);
 #endif
   if (ps->o.experimental_backends) {
-    if (ps->backend_data->ops->root_change) {
+    if (has_root_change) {
       ps->backend_data->ops->root_change(ps->backend_data, ps);
     } else {
       ps->backend_data = backend_list[ps->o.backend](ps);