diff --git a/server/red-worker.c b/server/red-worker.c
index eb927f3e..541110f8 100644
--- a/server/red-worker.c
+++ b/server/red-worker.c
@@ -527,7 +527,8 @@ static void dev_create_primary_surface(RedWorker *worker, uint32_t surface_id,
                                    line_0, surface.flags & QXL_SURF_FLAG_KEEP_DATA, TRUE);
     display_channel_set_monitors_config_to_primary(display);
 
-    CommonGraphicsChannel *common = COMMON_GRAPHICS_CHANNEL(worker->display_channel);
+    CommonGraphicsChannel *common = COMMON_GRAPHICS_CHANNEL(display);
+    RedChannel *channel = RED_CHANNEL(display);
     if (display_is_connected(worker) &&
         !common_graphics_channel_get_during_target_migrate(common)) {
         /* guest created primary, so it will (hopefully) send a monitors_config
@@ -535,9 +536,8 @@ static void dev_create_primary_surface(RedWorker *worker, uint32_t surface_id,
         if (!worker->driver_cap_monitors_config) {
             display_channel_push_monitors_config(display);
         }
-        red_channel_pipes_add_empty_msg(RED_CHANNEL(worker->display_channel),
-                                        SPICE_MSG_DISPLAY_MARK);
-        red_channel_push(RED_CHANNEL(worker->display_channel));
+        red_channel_pipes_add_empty_msg(channel, SPICE_MSG_DISPLAY_MARK);
+        red_channel_push(channel);
     }
 
     cursor_channel_do_init(worker->cursor_channel);