diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/media/BackFrameManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/media/BackFrameManager.java
index 61b945e0..c08d0dc0 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/media/BackFrameManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/media/BackFrameManager.java
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ public class BackFrameManager extends FrameManager
             // we cache our frame's graphics object so that we can avoid
             // instantiating a new one on every tick
             if (_fgfx == null) {
-                _fgfx = (Graphics2D)((Component)_root).getGraphics();
+                Component comp = (_root instanceof Component) ? (Component)_root : _window;
+                _fgfx = (Graphics2D)(comp.getGraphics());
             }
             _fgfx.drawImage(_backimg, 0, 0, null);