diff --git a/libkwineffects/kwinglobals.cpp b/libkwineffects/kwinglobals.cpp
index 832785c710..b27d4a98fc 100644
--- a/libkwineffects/kwinglobals.cpp
+++ b/libkwineffects/kwinglobals.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ void Extensions::addData(const char* name)
 
 void Extensions::init()
 {
+    static bool initPerformed = false;
+    if (initPerformed) {
+        return;
+    }
     int event_base, error_base;
     data_nextensions = 0;
     shape_version = 0;
@@ -135,6 +139,7 @@ void Extensions::init()
                  << " render: 0x" << QString::number(render_version, 16)
                  << " fixes: 0x" << QString::number(fixes_version, 16)
                  << " non_native_pixmaps: " << non_native_pixmaps << endl;
+    initPerformed = true;
 }
 
 void Extensions::fillExtensionsData(const char**& extensions, int& nextensions, int*&opcodes, int*& error_bases)
diff --git a/workspace.cpp b/workspace.cpp
index ca82319971..926d83be63 100644
--- a/workspace.cpp
+++ b/workspace.cpp
@@ -174,6 +174,10 @@ Workspace::Workspace(bool restore)
     desktopGrid_[1] = 0;
 
     _self = this;
+
+    // first initialize the extensions
+    Extensions::init();
+
     // PluginMgr needs access to the config file, so we need to wait for it for finishing
     reparseConfigFuture.waitForFinished();
     options->loadConfig();
@@ -219,7 +223,6 @@ Workspace::Workspace(bool restore)
                  ExposureMask
                 );
 
-    Extensions::init();
     compositingSuspended = !options->isUseCompositing();
 #ifdef KWIN_BUILD_TABBOX
     // need to create the tabbox before compositing scene is setup