diff --git a/openbox/screen.c b/openbox/screen.c
index f9b1eb6c..d5a51941 100644
--- a/openbox/screen.c
+++ b/openbox/screen.c
@@ -364,6 +364,13 @@ void screen_startup(gboolean reconfig)
         return;
     }
 
+#ifdef USE_XCOMPOSITE
+    /* Redirect window contents to offscreen pixmaps */
+    XCompositeRedirectSubwindows(ob_display,
+                                 RootWindow(ob_display, ob_screen),
+                                 CompositeRedirectAutomatic);
+#endif
+
     /* get the initial size */
     screen_resize();