diff --git a/gfx/layers/ipc/ShadowLayers.cpp b/gfx/layers/ipc/ShadowLayers.cpp
index 6863a2377b9d..a2e6ce883ea9 100644
--- a/gfx/layers/ipc/ShadowLayers.cpp
+++ b/gfx/layers/ipc/ShadowLayers.cpp
@@ -775,7 +775,9 @@ ShadowLayerForwarder::Connect(CompositableClient* aCompositable,
   }
   PCompositableChild* actor =
     mShadowManager->SendPCompositableConstructor(aCompositable->GetTextureInfo());
-  MOZ_ASSERT(actor);
+  if (!actor) {
+    return;
+  }
   aCompositable->InitIPDLActor(actor);
 }