diff --git a/src/lib/evas/canvas/evas_object_image.c b/src/lib/evas/canvas/evas_object_image.c
index cad6291286..d8cfc60425 100644
--- a/src/lib/evas/canvas/evas_object_image.c
+++ b/src/lib/evas/canvas/evas_object_image.c
@@ -1142,6 +1142,10 @@ _efl_canvas_image_internal_efl_gfx_buffer_alpha_set(Eo *eo_obj, Evas_Image_Data
 {
    Evas_Object_Protected_Data *obj = efl_data_scope_get(eo_obj, EFL_CANVAS_OBJECT_CLASS);
 
+   has_alpha = !!has_alpha;
+   if (has_alpha == o->cur->has_alpha)
+     return;
+
    evas_object_async_block(obj);
    if ((o->preload & EVAS_IMAGE_PRELOADING) && (o->engine_data))
      {
@@ -1149,10 +1153,6 @@ _efl_canvas_image_internal_efl_gfx_buffer_alpha_set(Eo *eo_obj, Evas_Image_Data
         ENFN->image_data_preload_cancel(ENC, o->engine_data, eo_obj, EINA_TRUE);
      }
 
-   has_alpha = !!has_alpha;
-   if (has_alpha == o->cur->has_alpha)
-     return;
-
    EINA_COW_IMAGE_STATE_WRITE_BEGIN(o, state_write)
    {
       state_write->has_alpha = has_alpha;