diff --git a/gtk/gtkwidget.c b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
index ff6d59dd8b..ee4ae277e0 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkwidget.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkwidget.c
@@ -8162,15 +8162,12 @@ static void
 gtk_widget_real_style_updated (GtkWidget *widget)
 {
   GtkWidgetPrivate *priv = widget->priv;
-  GtkCssStyleChange *change = NULL;
 
   gtk_widget_update_alpha (widget);
 
   if (widget->priv->context)
-    change = gtk_style_context_get_change (widget->priv->context);
-
-  if (change)
     {
+      GtkCssStyleChange *change = gtk_style_context_get_change (widget->priv->context);
       const gboolean has_text = gtk_widget_peek_pango_context (widget) != NULL;
 
       if (has_text && gtk_css_style_change_affects (change, GTK_CSS_AFFECTS_TEXT))
@@ -8178,7 +8175,8 @@ gtk_widget_real_style_updated (GtkWidget *widget)
 
       if (widget->priv->anchored)
         {
-          if (gtk_css_style_change_affects (change, GTK_CSS_AFFECTS_SIZE) ||
+          if (change == NULL ||
+              gtk_css_style_change_affects (change, GTK_CSS_AFFECTS_SIZE) ||
               (has_text && gtk_css_style_change_affects (change, GTK_CSS_AFFECTS_TEXT_SIZE)))
             {
               gtk_widget_queue_resize (widget);