diff --git a/widget/gtk2/nsWindow.cpp b/widget/gtk2/nsWindow.cpp
index d8545cdc557..1e24d759347 100644
--- a/widget/gtk2/nsWindow.cpp
+++ b/widget/gtk2/nsWindow.cpp
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "LayerManagerOGL.h"
 #include "GLContextProvider.h"
 #include "mozilla/gfx/2D.h"
+#include "mozilla/layers/CompositorParent.h"
 
 #ifdef MOZ_X11
 #include "gfxXlibSurface.h"
@@ -1975,6 +1976,12 @@ nsWindow::OnExposeEvent(cairo_t *cr)
     if (!listener)
         return FALSE;
 
+    // Do an early async composite so that we at least have something on screen
+    // in the right place, even if the content is out of date.
+    if (GetLayerManager()->GetBackendType() == LAYERS_CLIENT && mCompositorParent) {
+        mCompositorParent->ScheduleRenderOnCompositorThread();
+    }
+
     // Dispatch WillPaintWindow notification to allow scripts etc. to run
     // before we paint
     {