diff --git a/backend/drm/drm.c b/backend/drm/drm.c
index cd161e02..6541d31a 100644
--- a/backend/drm/drm.c
+++ b/backend/drm/drm.c
@@ -458,6 +458,14 @@ static bool drm_connector_test(struct wlr_output *output) {
 	}
 
 	if (drm_connector_state_active(conn, &output->pending)) {
+		if ((output->pending.committed &
+				(WLR_OUTPUT_STATE_ENABLED | WLR_OUTPUT_STATE_MODE)) &&
+				!(output->pending.committed & WLR_OUTPUT_STATE_BUFFER)) {
+			wlr_drm_conn_log(conn, WLR_DEBUG,
+				"Can't enable an output without a buffer");
+			return false;
+		}
+
 		if (!drm_connector_alloc_crtc(conn)) {
 			wlr_drm_conn_log(conn, WLR_DEBUG,
 				"No CRTC available for this connector");