diff --git a/drmdisplaycompositor.h b/drmdisplaycompositor.h
index 975de63..541d807 100644
--- a/drmdisplaycompositor.h
+++ b/drmdisplaycompositor.h
@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@
 #include <hardware/hardware.h>
 #include <hardware/hwcomposer.h>
 
-#define DRM_DISPLAY_BUFFERS 2
+// One for the front, one for the back, and one for cases where we need to
+// squash a frame that the hw can't display with hw overlays.
+#define DRM_DISPLAY_BUFFERS 3
 
 namespace android {