diff --git a/Xext/sync.c b/Xext/sync.c
index ee0010e65..585cfa6f6 100644
--- a/Xext/sync.c
+++ b/Xext/sync.c
@@ -360,11 +360,6 @@ SyncInitTrigger(ClientPtr client, SyncTrigger * pTrigger, XID syncObject,
             client->errorValue = syncObject;
             return rc;
         }
-        if (pSync != pTrigger->pSync) { /* new counter for trigger */
-            SyncDeleteTriggerFromSyncObject(pTrigger);
-            pTrigger->pSync = pSync;
-            newSyncObject = TRUE;
-        }
     }
 
     /* if system counter, ask it what the current value is */
@@ -432,6 +427,14 @@ SyncInitTrigger(ClientPtr client, SyncTrigger * pTrigger, XID syncObject,
         }
     }
 
+    if (changes & XSyncCACounter) {
+        if (pSync != pTrigger->pSync) { /* new counter for trigger */
+            SyncDeleteTriggerFromSyncObject(pTrigger);
+            pTrigger->pSync = pSync;
+            newSyncObject = TRUE;
+        }
+    }
+
     /*  we wait until we're sure there are no errors before registering
      *  a new counter on a trigger
      */