diff --git a/collects/mred/private/wx/cocoa/canvas.rkt b/collects/mred/private/wx/cocoa/canvas.rkt
index 93bf8d54..6c4bb59d 100644
--- a/collects/mred/private/wx/cocoa/canvas.rkt
+++ b/collects/mred/private/wx/cocoa/canvas.rkt
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@
           (when pq (set-box! pq #f)))
         (set! paint-queued #f)
         (when (or (not b) (is-shown-to-root?))
+          (send dc suspend-flush)
           (send dc ensure-ready)
           (send dc erase) ; start with a clean slate
           (let ([bg (get-canvas-background)])
@@ -231,7 +232,6 @@
                 (send dc set-background bg)
                 (send dc clear)
                 (send dc set-background old-bg))))
-          (send dc suspend-flush)
           (on-paint)
           (send dc resume-flush)
           (queue-backing-flush)))
diff --git a/collects/mred/private/wx/gtk/canvas.rkt b/collects/mred/private/wx/gtk/canvas.rkt
index b8069171..748bd5e7 100644
--- a/collects/mred/private/wx/gtk/canvas.rkt
+++ b/collects/mred/private/wx/gtk/canvas.rkt
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@
          (lambda () 
            (set! paint-queued? #f)
            (set! now-drawing? #t)
+           (send dc suspend-flush)
            (send dc ensure-ready)
            (send dc erase) ; clean slate
            (let ([bg (get-canvas-background)])
@@ -357,7 +358,6 @@
                  (send dc set-background bg)
                  (send dc clear)
                  (send dc set-background old-bg))))
-           (send dc suspend-flush)
            (on-paint)
            (send dc resume-flush)
            (set! now-drawing? #f)