diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
index 708508ed43..91ffb6856a 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
@@ -280,8 +280,8 @@ class ShowBase(DirectObject.DirectObject):
             self.multiClientSleep = 0
 
         # Offscreen buffer viewing utility.
-        if self.config.GetBool('show-buffers', 0):
-            self.bufferViewer = BufferViewer()
+        # This needs to be allocated even if the viewer is off.
+        self.bufferViewer = BufferViewer()
 
         # Start Tk and DIRECT if specified by Config.prc
         fTk = self.config.GetBool('want-tk', 0)