diff --git a/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx b/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx
index 8cc04f7..a9ae62e 100644
--- a/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx
+++ b/common/rfb/VNCServerST.cxx
@@ -305,8 +305,6 @@
   delete comparer;
   comparer = 0;
 
-  screenLayout = layout;
-
   if (!pb) {
     screenLayout = ScreenSet();
 
@@ -316,16 +314,17 @@
     return;
   }
 
+  if (!layout.validate(pb->width(), pb->height()))
+    throw Exception("setPixelBuffer: invalid screen layout");
+
+  screenLayout = layout;
+
   // Assume the framebuffer contents wasn't saved and reset everything
   // that tracks its contents
   comparer = new ComparingUpdateTracker(pb);
   renderedCursorInvalid = true;
   add_changed(pb->getRect());
 
-  // Make sure that we have at least one screen
-  if (screenLayout.num_screens() == 0)
-    screenLayout.add_screen(Screen(0, 0, 0, pb->width(), pb->height(), 0));
-
   std::list<VNCSConnectionST*>::iterator ci, ci_next;
   for (ci=clients.begin();ci!=clients.end();ci=ci_next) {
     ci_next = ci; ci_next++;
@@ -359,6 +358,10 @@
     }
   }
 
+  // Make sure that we have at least one screen
+  if (layout.num_screens() == 0)
+    layout.add_screen(Screen(0, 0, 0, pb->width(), pb->height(), 0));
+
   setPixelBuffer(pb_, layout);
 }
 
diff --git a/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.cxx b/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.cxx
index f8b579d..e77e765 100644
--- a/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.cxx
+++ b/unix/x0vncserver/XDesktop.cxx
@@ -397,6 +397,11 @@
   }
 #endif
 
+  // Make sure that we have at least one screen
+  if (layout.num_screens() == 0)
+    layout.add_screen(rfb::Screen(0, 0, 0, geometry->width(),
+                                  geometry->height(), 0));
+
   return layout;
 }