diff --git a/hw/xfree86/modes/xf86Rotate.c b/hw/xfree86/modes/xf86Rotate.c
index 348b793d0..8e03c6c11 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/modes/xf86Rotate.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/modes/xf86Rotate.c
@@ -366,6 +366,12 @@ xf86CrtcFitsScreen (xf86CrtcPtr crtc, struct pict_f_transform *crtc_to_fb)
     ScrnInfoPtr		pScrn = crtc->scrn;
     BoxRec		b;
 
+    /* When called before PreInit, the driver is
+     * presumably doing load detect
+     */
+    if (pScrn->virtualX == 0 || pScrn->virtualY == 0)
+	return TRUE;
+
     b.x1 = 0;
     b.y1 = 0;
     b.x2 = crtc->mode.HDisplay;