diff --git a/libs/canvas/rectangle.cc b/libs/canvas/rectangle.cc
index 64cdd3af8a..3158dad4ae 100644
--- a/libs/canvas/rectangle.cc
+++ b/libs/canvas/rectangle.cc
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ Rectangle::render_self (Rect const & area, Cairo::RefPtr<Cairo::Context> context
 		context->fill ();
 	}
 
-	if (_outline) {
+	if (_outline && _outline_width && _outline_what) {
 
 		setup_outline_context (context);