diff --git a/lib/awful/permissions/_common.lua b/lib/awful/permissions/_common.lua
index 368c95da..718d9028 100644
--- a/lib/awful/permissions/_common.lua
+++ b/lib/awful/permissions/_common.lua
@@ -20,10 +20,6 @@ local default_permissions = {
 }
 
 function module.check(object, class, request, context)
-    if not default_permissions[class] then return true end
-    if not default_permissions[class][request] then return true end
-    if default_permissions[class][request][context] == nil then return true end
-
     local ret = nil
 
     if object._private.permissions and object._private.permissions[request] then
@@ -32,6 +28,10 @@ function module.check(object, class, request, context)
 
     if ret ~= nil then return ret end
 
+    if not default_permissions[class] then return true end
+    if not default_permissions[class][request] then return true end
+    if default_permissions[class][request][context] == nil then return true end
+
     return default_permissions[class][request][context]
 end
 
diff --git a/spec/awful/permissions_spec.lua b/spec/awful/permissions_spec.lua
index f02fde36..c35375cc 100644
--- a/spec/awful/permissions_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/awful/permissions_spec.lua
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ describe("awful.permissions.client_geometry_requests", function()
     local permissions = require("awful.permissions")
 
     it("removes x/y/width/height when immobilized", function()
-        local c = {}
+        local c = {_private={}}
         local s = stub.new(c, "geometry")
 
         permissions.client_geometry_requests(c, "ewmh", {})