diff --git a/libweston/compositor.c b/libweston/compositor.c
index 96eeb17..4a0bfef 100644
--- a/libweston/compositor.c
+++ b/libweston/compositor.c
@@ -4685,6 +4685,8 @@
 	ec->output_id_pool = 0;
 	ec->repaint_msec = DEFAULT_REPAINT_WINDOW;
 
+	ec->activate_serial = 1;
+
 	if (!wl_global_create(ec->wl_display, &wl_compositor_interface, 4,
 			      ec, compositor_bind))
 		goto fail;