diff --git a/sway/desktop/transaction.c b/sway/desktop/transaction.c
index d4e853dee..082fe20ce 100644
--- a/sway/desktop/transaction.c
+++ b/sway/desktop/transaction.c
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ static void transaction_destroy(struct sway_transaction *transaction) {
 		if (node->instruction == instruction) {
 			node->instruction = NULL;
 		}
-		if (node->destroying && node->ntxnrefs == 0) {
+		if (node->destroying && node->ntxnrefs == 0 && !node->dirty) {
 			switch (node->type) {
 			case N_ROOT:
 				sway_assert(false, "Never reached");