diff --git a/dix/window.c b/dix/window.c
index 92df1eb4c..0e9109e89 100644
--- a/dix/window.c
+++ b/dix/window.c
@@ -530,7 +530,11 @@ CreateRootWindow(ScreenPtr pScreen)
     if (disableBackingStore)
         pScreen->backingStoreSupport = NotUseful;
     if (enableBackingStore)
-        pScreen->backingStoreSupport = Always;
+        pScreen->backingStoreSupport = WhenMapped;
+#ifdef COMPOSITE
+    if (noCompositeExtension)
+        pScreen->backingStoreSupport = NotUseful;
+#endif
 
     pScreen->saveUnderSupport = NotUseful;
 
diff --git a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Helper.c b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Helper.c
index 721159d0b..4f1f3d4c3 100644
--- a/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Helper.c
+++ b/hw/xfree86/common/xf86Helper.c
@@ -1640,7 +1640,7 @@ xf86SetBackingStore(ScreenPtr pScreen)
             from = X_CONFIG;
     }
     free(options);
-    pScreen->backingStoreSupport = useBS ? Always : NotUseful;
+    pScreen->backingStoreSupport = useBS ? WhenMapped : NotUseful;
     if (serverGeneration == 1)
         xf86DrvMsg(pScreen->myNum, from, "Backing store %s\n",
                    useBS ? "enabled" : "disabled");