diff --git a/common/xutil.c b/common/xutil.c
index 1c53f260..a216feb9 100644
--- a/common/xutil.c
+++ b/common/xutil.c
@@ -40,18 +40,19 @@ bool
 xutil_gettextprop(xcb_connection_t *conn, xcb_window_t w, xcb_atom_t atom,
                   char *text, ssize_t textlen)
 {
-    xcb_get_property_reply_t *prop_r = NULL;
+    xcb_get_property_cookie_t prop_c;
+    xcb_get_property_reply_t *prop_r;
     void *prop_val;
 
+    prop_c = xcb_get_property_unchecked(conn, false,
+                                        w, atom,
+                                        XCB_GET_PROPERTY_TYPE_ANY,
+                                        0L, 1000000L);
+
     if(!text || !textlen)
         return false;
 
-    prop_r = xcb_get_property_reply(conn,
-                                    xcb_get_property_unchecked(conn, false,
-                                                               w, atom,
-                                                               XCB_GET_PROPERTY_TYPE_ANY,
-                                                               0L, 1000000L),
-                                    NULL);
+    prop_r = xcb_get_property_reply(conn, prop_c, NULL);
 
 
     if(!prop_r || !prop_r->value_len || prop_r->format != 8)