diff --git a/core/src/processing/core/PGraphicsJava2D.java b/core/src/processing/core/PGraphicsJava2D.java
index a42f1ea3f..af906a6dd 100644
--- a/core/src/processing/core/PGraphicsJava2D.java
+++ b/core/src/processing/core/PGraphicsJava2D.java
@@ -1302,9 +1302,10 @@ public class PGraphicsJava2D extends PGraphics {
 
     if (who.modified) {
       if (who.pixels == null) {
-        // This might be a PGraphics that hasn't been drawn to yet, bail out.
+        // This might be a PGraphics that hasn't been drawn to yet.
+        // Can't just bail because the cache has been created above.
         // https://github.com/processing/processing/issues/2208
-        return;
+        who.pixels = new int[who.width * who.height];
       }
       cash.update(who, tint, tintColor);
       who.modified = false;