diff --git a/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c b/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c
index 40af34e..93da985 100644
--- a/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c
+++ b/src/backend/wayland/wl_backend.c
@@ -8606,6 +8606,14 @@ static void wl_menu_paint_entry(WMenu *menu, int index, int selected)
     if (!fb || !fb->image)
         return;
 
+    /* Guard against painting before wMenuRealize: entry_height is 0,
+     * fb->image is the initial 1x10 placeholder, and the bevel-line
+     * computations below would write outside the pixman buffer.
+     * wMenuSetEnabled() in particular triggers paints on the brother
+     * during updateOptionsMenu before the menu is realized. */
+    if (menu->entry_height <= 0 || fb->width <= 1 || fb->height <= 10)
+        return;
+
     WScreen *scr = menu->frame->screen_ptr;
     WMenuEntry *entry = menu->entries[index];
     int y = menu->entry_height * index;