diff --git a/xf86drmMode.c b/xf86drmMode.c
index 529429e8..fa219861 100644
--- a/xf86drmMode.c
+++ b/xf86drmMode.c
@@ -1289,7 +1289,7 @@ static int sort_req_list(const void *misc, const void *other)
 int drmModeAtomicCommit(int fd, drmModeAtomicReqPtr req, uint32_t flags,
 			void *user_data)
 {
-	drmModeAtomicReqPtr sorted = drmModeAtomicDuplicate(req);
+	drmModeAtomicReqPtr sorted;
 	struct drm_mode_atomic atomic;
 	uint32_t *objs_ptr = NULL;
 	uint32_t *count_props_ptr = NULL;
@@ -1300,7 +1300,11 @@ int drmModeAtomicCommit(int fd, drmModeAtomicReqPtr req, uint32_t flags,
 	int obj_idx = -1;
 	int ret = -1;
 
-	if (!sorted)
+	if (req->cursor == 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	sorted = drmModeAtomicDuplicate(req);
+	if (sorted == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	memclear(atomic);