diff --git a/libs/canvas/image.cc b/libs/canvas/image.cc
index b13859aeda..9deb184f2c 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/image.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/image.cc
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ Image::Image (Group* group, Cairo::Format fmt, int width, int height)
 	, _height (height)
 	, _need_render (false)
 {
+	boost::shared_ptr<Data> d0 (new Data (NULL, 0, 0, 0, _format)); _current = d0;
+	boost::shared_ptr<Data> d1 (new Data (NULL, 0, 0, 0, _format)); _pending = d1;
 	DataReady.connect (data_connections, MISSING_INVALIDATOR, boost::bind (&Image::accept_data, this), gui_context());
 }