diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/onroad.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/onroad.cc
index b4c9b89195..94e0e085e9 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/onroad.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/onroad.cc
@@ -148,8 +148,6 @@ void OnroadAlerts::stopSounds() {
 }
 
 void OnroadAlerts::paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event) {
-  QPainter p(this);
-
   if (alert_size == cereal::ControlsState::AlertSize::NONE) {
     return;
   }
@@ -161,6 +159,8 @@ void OnroadAlerts::paintEvent(QPaintEvent *event) {
   int h = alert_sizes[alert_size];
   QRect r = QRect(0, height() - h, width(), h);
 
+  QPainter p(this);
+
   // draw background + gradient
   p.setPen(Qt::NoPen);
   p.setCompositionMode(QPainter::CompositionMode_SourceOver);