diff --git a/src/xterm.c b/src/xterm.c
index 14c7f89b6ec..e981a36fa9c 100644
--- a/src/xterm.c
+++ b/src/xterm.c
@@ -7360,8 +7360,10 @@ x_update_end (struct frame *f)
   MOUSE_HL_INFO (f)->mouse_face_defer = false;
 
 #ifdef USE_CAIRO
+# ifdef HAVE_XDBE
   if (!FRAME_X_DOUBLE_BUFFERED_P (f) && FRAME_CR_CONTEXT (f))
     cairo_surface_flush (cairo_get_target (FRAME_CR_CONTEXT (f)));
+# endif
 #endif
 
   /* If double buffering is disabled, finish the update here.